Correspondance

From: Colin Shaw <Colin.Shaw@newcastle.ac.uk>

Sent: 16 February 2022 11:20

To: Coulter, Ian (Rivers) <Ian.Coulter@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk>

Subject: RE: Thank you

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Hi Ian,

We’ve reached a useful number of attendees – you’ll need to explain things to a couple 10 year-olds, no harm!

The weather is going to be horrible, so it’ll keep us efficient.

Can we say 3:30 at the Towpath along Stranmillis Wharf (Mollie Rose Way)?

Thank you,

Colin

Hi All,

Further to our site visit last week, officials have sent some more information in response to questions we asked.

Unfortunately, as indicated as a possibility at the meeting, they believe 4 more of those trees beside Stranmillis Wharf will need to go. They have included their rationale and indicate that they have been exploring alternatives (outlined below). I am out of my element technically and am unable to create a counter argument so if folks have a credible alternative it will need to be pitched asap.

I had asked where that ‘standard’ they referred to came from and that have given some more information in the penultimate paragraph.

Finally, they have given some initial feedback to Peter’s specific proposal on the hedge transplant and I can go back with any other questions or additional info we should be sharing.

Apologies again to be the bearer of sad news about those 4 additional trees - they have offered a further meeting on Wednesday, I am unfortunately not in Belfast then but can set it up if you think it would be helpful?

Very best wishes and talk soon,

Claire

Claire Hanna MP

Sent from my phone

From: Carlisle, Johnathan <Johnathan.Carlisle@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk>

Sent: Friday, February 11, 2022 15:14

To: HANNA, Claire

Cc: DfI SpAd; DfI Private Office; McGivern, Owen; McKee,

Subject: RE: Thank you

Dear Claire Hanna MP,

Many thanks for chairing the meeting on Monday. Below is an update following our meeting and provides a response to your specific questions within your e-mail.

The alignment of the wall within the BCC lands between Stranmillis Wharf and Governor’s Br. is along the rear of the towpath as discussed on site. The impact of this alignment on the existing trees means that 4 of the existing trees need to be removed due to the necessity to excavate and work within the trees protection zone, which would cause damage to the current root structure and therefore in the interests of safety mean that these trees need to be safely removed in advance. See abstract below from previous drawings provided.

Since our meeting on Monday we have reviewed any alternative routes for the defences at this location, including;

moving the wall for this section to the riverside of the path, although this would require the removal of 8 trees, (the 4 currently earmarked for removal and an additional 4 along the railing at the river side).

a third alignment which is indicated below; however, this alignment would impact on the protection zone of 6 trees within BCC lands and a further one in Stranmillis Wharf.

Therefore the alignment we are proposing has the least impact on the existing trees and we have secured agreement with BCC to facilitate these works. As part of the licence agreement with BCC we have agreed the re-instatement of the 4 trees to be removed with 16 semi-mature trees (ratio of 4:1). It has been agreed that the replanting of the 16 replacement trees can be at either Stranmillis Open Space, Balfour Avenue Open Space and / or Dromara Street Open Space, which are all BCC lands. The reason they can’t all be planted at Stranmillis is due to the limited space available to sustain this additional number along with the remaining trees at this location. The Contractor has applied for a closure to the path for one week commencing 21^st Feb to complete utility investigations and it is intended that these further tree removal works would be safely completed during this closure and ahead of the nesting season.

We are also trying to finalise design details for the section of flood defence along the pathway between Stranmillis Wharf apartments and QUB Boat Club. There is the potential the remaining section of hedge along the Stranmillis Wharf apartments boundary and 2 number trees may need to be removed to facilitate the construction of the flood defences at this location. This hedge and the trees are within private ownership belonging to Stranmillis Wharf and these will only be selected for removal during this time, ahead of the nesting season, if we can finalise the technical design details and secure the landowner agreement to complete these works.

Downstream of Governors Bridge along the Stranmillis Embankment you will see from the plans previously provided the extent of the flood defences on the left bank. This area is a location with the potential to impact on a number of trees, although currently we have no plans for any removal / clearance works at this time until we can finalise the design details for the flood defences at this location. Once we have finalised proposals for the area downstream of Governors Bridge we can advise you accordingly.

Between Kings Bridge and Ormeau Rd Bridge there are only very localised defences required to protect a small number of properties at this location and these are intended to be demountable barriers to be erected around the at risk properties in advance of a tidal surge. Therefore there are currently no plans for any tree removal at this location, although as we finalise designs and tie in positions we will assess the need for any localised clearance.

In relation to the compensatory planting at Lockview area we have been actively pursuing potential open spaces, beyond our works area but within the environs of the scheme and have identified that the car park further along Lockview Road towards the Stranmillis Weir may actually be owned by the Department. We have engaged with colleagues within the appropriate section of the Department and are setting up a meeting to ascertain the extent of any Departmental ownership and hence explore opportunities for compensatory planting including the potential of transplanting the hedge from the verge at the Cutters Wharf Carpark. I would advise that we have identified 3 electricity cables situated within the verge where the hedgerow has been cut and therefore we may need to await the diversion to these cables by the utility provider to enable the safe removal of the hedge roots to facilitate any transplanting. As we work through this process, subject to landowner agreements and the utility diversion we will keep you informed.

The standard referred to by the Consultants and Contractor during our site meeting is BS5837:2012 ‘ Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction’.

I hope this information is helpful and you can appreciate that we are endeavouring to minimise the impact on existing trees and only targeting for removal now those necessary to facilitate the construction of the flood defences. I will be off on leave next week and wanted to provide an update in advance; however, Owen would be available to meet on Wednesday afternoon or provide a further update confirming the extent of the proposed works within the vicinity of Stranmillis Wharf apartments, as we hope to complete any confirmed works ahead of the bird nesting season to minimise impact on any nesting birds.

Kind Regards

Johnathan

Johnathan Carlisle

DfI Rivers Capital Projects Unit

49 Tullywiggan Road

Loughry

Cookstown

Co. Tyrone

BT80 8SG

Mail to: johnathan.carlisle@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

Colin,

DFI have come back offering either this Thursday (3rd) or Monday (7th) 0930 for a site meeting for residents and members of your campaign. I had suggested morning in order to have the light but minimise disruption for residents who need to get back to work, but am happy to suggest alternatives if that doesn’t work. I can’t do this Thursday, will be in London, but am sure a colleague would attend if you wanted to get moving asap.

Do either of those suit and can you advise who might attend? You had the right idea at BCDA with “laser focus” and I had specified that we would have questions around the route, the design, the variations which weren’t pursued and, crucially, the compensatory works. I absolutely understand that people have wider concerns about issues including the residential development and ‘opening up’ of the river to boats but that isn’t something that the department are covering. Similarly, if it’s about the rationale for a flood defence I think the questions would need to be quite specific and ideally flowing from the modelling on the project Microsite.

I hope that doesn’t sound overly prescriptive! Of course people can and will ask what they want, but I’m keen to ensure people get as much info as possible out of the meeting and also that the officials don’t end up chucked in the river!

Let me know sure,

Thanks,

Claire

Claire Hanna MP