Town Councillors to consider expansion of woodland planting scheme

Town Councillors are to read of plans to expand a woodland planting scheme on the edge of the town.

At the upcoming meeting of the Economy & Environment Committee, town councillors will consider a letter and map from Douglas Scott from Scottish Woodlands on behalf of Mr M Evans in relation to expansion of a woodland planting scheme at Ffridd Vaughan on the edge of the town.

The proposed scheme, which runs along the Newtown Bypass is key for physical screening of the bypass and carbon sequestration. This expansion follows a scheme last year which saw 16.03ha planted.

In the letter from Mr Scott it states that:

"Last years planting scheme involved all of the fields that are shaded solid brown (extending to 16.03 hectares), the proposed scheme (to be planted winter 22-23) are the fields shaded grey. As you can see from the map the areas run alongside the Newtown Bypass, which is one of the key reasons behind the woodland creation both from a point of view of physical screening and carbon sequestration."

"The total area for the proposed scheme is 7.32ha (hectares) of planting with approximately 0.25ha to be left un-planted directly underneath and on either side of the 11kv over head powerline that runs through the south of the field. As I stated in my initial enquiry the species to be planted are all native broadleaves (oak, cherry, rowan, small-leaved lime, alder etc.)."

Town councillors will decide whether or not to comment. The scheme is not part of the formal planning process.