Fylde Council to Retain Clifton Street Trees Following Public Support

Fylde Council has confirmed that the London Plane trees along Clifton Street will be retained, following detailed investigations and strong public support.

The trees had been under review due to pavement damage caused by their roots. Initial proposals included replacing them with a more suitable species, with plans for public consultation on the options.

As part of the review, an arboriculture report was commissioned and trial work was carried out on selected trees to see if root pruning could safely resolve the issue. Unfortunately, the roots were found to be too large to prune without risking tree stability.

A petition led by County Councillor Tim Ashton and signed by local residents called for the trees to stay. After listening to the community and reviewing the expert advice, the Council will now move forward with retaining the trees, carrying out crown reduction and pruning where appropriate—subject to landowner consent.

The Council will also press ahead with upgrades to street lighting and work with nearby property owners to improve surfacing around the trees, replacing temporary patches with a more attractive and durable finish, like resin-bonded gravel.

Most of the trees are on private land and will remain the responsibility of landowners for future maintenance and insurance.

Fylde Council is also looking forward to working with the newly elected Lytham Town Council to develop future improvement projects for the area.

Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “We’ve taken the time to fully understand the issues and listen to the views of the local community. While the roots have created real challenges, there is strong public feeling about keeping these trees, and we respect that. The focus will be on managing them responsibly and improving the surrounding area in partnership with residents and businesses.”