Council 'sorry' after vegetation cut-back

From the archive, first published Tuesday 24th Apr 2007.

Council officers have apologised after an attempt to tidy vegetation led to a nursery losing part of its leafy boundary.

Bradford Council said it was asked by Ilkley Civic Society and Ilkley Parish Council to cut back trees and vegetation growing out of the four corners of Ilkley Old Bridge.

But when staff arrived for work at the Old Bridge Nursery, they discovered part of their boundary hedge had vanished, leaving the business without a secure fence or wall.

Initially fearing the trees and vegetation had been taken for firewood, they tried to track down who had cut it down.

Council officers have since met the business owner and come to agreement to make the site secure.

Senior Highways Structure engineer for the council, Andy Parkin, said: "We have cut back some trees and vegetation which were growing out of the four corners of the bridge at the request of Ilkley Civic Society and Ilkley Parish Council. We have apologised to the owners of the Old Bridge Nursery for any inconvenience caused while work was carried out next to their land.

"We have had a lengthy meeting with them and we have agreed to help them make their land secure."