Diseased tree keeps car park closed

A busy car park in Diss remains closed - more than three weeks after an unsafe diseased tree was identified.The South Norfolk Council owned car park in Mount Street was cordoned off at the end of last month after a large caucasian wingnut was found to have extensive fungal damage.

A busy car park in Diss remains closed - more than three weeks after an unsafe diseased tree was identified.

The South Norfolk Council owned car park in Mount Street was cordoned off at the end of last month after a large caucasian wingnut was found to have extensive fungal damage.

Officials from the district council said that the tree was still waiting to be felled after the council's specialist consultant went on holiday.

Emergency work to remove the top of the wingnut, which straddles the entrance and exit of the Mount Street car park, was carried out on August 6 over fears that the tree could topple in bad weather.

Part of the car park near the Diss Health Centre has been reopened, but will not be fully reopened until the tree is felled, which is expected to take place when the council's contractor returns from holiday next week.

David Bills, cabinet member for environment and health at South Norfolk Council, said: 'We instructed contractors to carry out emergency work to remove the top half of the tree, to ensure public safety. This work was carried out Thursday August 6 and since then we have been able to open part of the car park. We are now awaiting the return of the consultant from holiday, before we decide what further action should be taken.'

The district council had ordered an inspection of all trees in public areas after the tree had almost split in two as a result of a fungal infection.