COMMUNITY CENTRE, Ffordd Penrallt, Gwaenysgor, Rhyl, LL18 6EP

Proposal

Gwaenysgor Village Hall is a community centre in the heart of the village and the trees within its boundaries are in the village conservation area. The hall is managed as a charity by volunteers and trustees who are responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and ensuring the hall is there for the village and the local community. The hall is regularly used by the village and local community for events, childrens parties and it is these events which provide the revenue to enable us to continue providing the facility. The Village Hall is required to manage 4 of the very large trees within its boundaries at the southern end of the property. This is for safety reasons, as the hall is used regularly by the village and public, both indoors and used specifically outdoors in the tree sited areas. The trees are generally in good health but have become very large with weighty and lengthy lower limbs that are now almost touching the ground. On a couple of the trees the lower limbs are now weakly attached to the trunk which could be a safety issue in the near future, plus the lower limbs of the trees are very close to the ground and need to be lifted to a height to prevent being pulled, climbed or swung on . To help the management of the trees and in support of maintaining the appearance, biodiversity and ecosystem of the village hall grounds we want to reduce the height of each of the trees, reduce the width of their crowns, and prune the lower limbs so that the trees maintain a natural balance and the general form of the crown, removing some of the lower limbs to prevent people or children pulling on them or climbing on them. A survey and report will be submitted in this planning, identifying the recommended work required and identifying the trees in question as A (Sycamore), B (Sycamore), C (Horse Chestnut and D (Beech). The document ref GVHTreeWorks001 shows the exact location in relation to the community centre, its grounds and true north. We have had a tree survey by Alexander Wilkinson, the Assistant Woodland & Tree Officer, Flintshire County Council who has recommended work to be carried out on the trees.