Oaks get reprieve in Cox’s Walk footbridge revamp
Southwark council said it has found a way to save two oaks which were in danger of being felled in order for work to be carried out on an historic footbridge.
The authority has been working to try and find a way to fix the Cox’s Walk footbridge at Sydenham Hill Wood, Dulwich without removing the trees – which are less than 2m from the foot of the bridge, on the west side.
Green campaigners bitterly opposed the destruction of the trees, which the council had initially planned.
Council officers also advised putting a provisional tree preservation order (TPO), which came into effect in January this year, in place for six months.
The trees in Sydenham Hill Wood in Dulwich, thought to be 155 and 115-years-old, sit on either side of the western end of a footbridge in Cox’s Walk.
The oaks are so close to the bridge that works to replace the supporting wall on their side could cause the trees to fall.
The footbridge is part of a public highway and makes Cox’s Walk fully accessible for pedestrians enjoying the Green Chain Walk.
The bridge was found to be unsafe and closed in January 2020. The council has been committed to fixing it since.
But the authority has now found a way to maintain the oak trees, by working with new consultants, Watermans, and drawing more money from council funds.
The new plans to fix the bridge were approved on Monday. It is estimated that the works will return the bridge to public use by the summer of 2023.
Councillor Catherine Rose, cabinet member for Parks, Streets and Clean Air, said: “After many years and much public consultation, I am happy to have identified a solution that will return the historic bridge to public use and retain the two oak trees on its west bank.
“This work illustrates to our commitment to increasing the tree canopy in Southwark. We’ve planted 17,000 new trees in the last two years.
“The two oaks at Cox’s Walk are now protected for generations to come. They support and add to the flora and fauna which flourishes across Southwark every day, under our careful stewardship.”
Pictured top: Cox’s Walk footbridge (Picture: © Copyright Ian Taylor and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence)
