Published Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 10:33
Due to safety concerns, an emergency order has today been submitted to fell the large tree in front of Darwen Town Hall.
Specialist structural engineers have been closely monitoring the tree due to its size, its close proximity to the town hall and market, and the damage its roots have been causing to the historic building.
Following recent surveys, the engineers have now deemed that it must be felled.
A spokesperson for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: “Sadly, we have no option but to remove the tree.
“We’ve had experts closely monitoring it for some time now and they’ve advised that for safety reasons it must be felled.
“As with any tree, removing it as a very last resort. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we must act on the advice of the structural engineers as safety is our priority.”
The Council is now in talks with staff at Myerscough College about a project to collect cuttings from the tree in a bid to grow more in the hope that they could be introduced in to Darwen’s parks and woodland.
As part of planned major investment for the town centre, new opportunities for planting will also be prioritised.