'Dangerous' trees at Washington Cemetery to be chopped down

Dangerous trees are to be removed from Washington Cemetery over fears they present a danger to the public.

Sunderland City Council, which recommended the removal of the Willows, was forced to seek permission from its own Planning and Highways Committee as the site lies within the Washington Conservation Area.

According to the local authority’s tree officer, the work is needed to ‘protect the public from raised pavement and dropping branches’.

However, due to the number of other trees in the area, it was felt their removal would not alter the ‘character of the surrounding area’.

Replacements were also not recommended.

The panel gave the proposal the green light on February 2.

City councillor Len Lauchlan, whose Washington Central ward includes the cemetery, said: “[The trees] are quite dangerous, I’ve seen large branches on the pathways.

“While I don’t like to see trees cut down, I’m in agreement with this.”

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