Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[mac]

Hi Debs and for the attention of anybody living along the hosptial perimeter fence, plans re landscaping have been changed by the NHS with out any of us knowing it.Many of the multistem trees promised are no longer being planted and instead they have planted privot hedging-a shrub and are going to plant cordyline shrubs etcall smaller than fence height and will not grow the same height as the tree coverage. So the photograghs and plans we all have seen are not infact what they are planting. The pictures and plans of the tall 10.5 feet high trees all along the boundary fence are a joke and even today they are displaying this.They are planting some trees where there werenot to be any and removed others from the plans. These new plans were given by the architect to the landscapers last week- not the ones that were passed.
So you need to onto it now. It was suggested they have spent all the money inside and wern't putting the money into outside.
So we all have been lied to again.
Debs were you aware of hedging instead of trees.You need to sort this out now.

[deb]

have asked for a reply from the Hospital. Thanks MAC

[mac]

Debs,you should see the hundreds and hundreds of small plants that are and will be plantedas landscape for the patients and instaed of cutting back on some of that planting they have only planted 4-5 of 19 trees promised along the perimeter fence along the back. Obviously not much thought about being "neighbourly".

[mac]

Debs,did you ever receive any answer to your email you sent on Tuesday form the hospital.
If you Like to Pm me you can come and see the problem this has left people here.Thanks

[deb]

Yes I did. If you wrote to Chris Slavin you will have a reply next week. I will post the answer next week or you can share the letter. Either way if anyone else is following this the answer will be posted, it just seemed right to let those that had written have the official response first and I was requested that that be the case.

[mac]

Received word from Planning Dept 31/10/11 stating that the NHS intend "to plant the trees in tree planting season mid November onwards"-as per original plans. "They will be checking end of November" to ensure planting carried out in accordance with "the approved scheme".

Received letter from Chris Slavin 01/11/11stating the "Trust's intent to comply with the landscaping drawingsof 04/01/11.
Then he goes onto state "as previously noted we can confirm that the TREES in close proximity to the resident's properties will all be native,deciduous trees that will form part of the landscaped area of the building. However the "TREES planted close to the Boundary will be potentially be a mixture of the following species:
Alder Buckthorn
Dogwood
Hazel
Privet
Guelder Rose
When fully mature the above tree will reach an average height of 4 to 5m. Hence,they will be above the top of the boundary fence by 1.5 to 2.5m
The trees will be planted at a semi mature level, which is typically at a height of 3 to 3.5 m. This will mean the trees will be above the fence by 0.5 to 1 m until the trees start to develop further. We believe this will provide adequate cover to obstruct the views between the building and the residents properties.
Landscaping works have only just commenced and will be complted towards the end of November at which time we will be more than happy to meet with you to discuss whether any further improvements are necessary"
The confusing thing is they keep talking about MULTISTEM TREES 3.5 m HIGH and what they have planted is privot which is a shrub/hedging and is 0.5 to 1 m lower than the height of the fence which makes a difference of 1 to 2 m lower than what they are stating at the boundaries. Have even checked official quotqation of MULTISTEM TREES MULTI STEM TREES.Privot /dogwood etc doesn't come into it they are shrubs NOT TREES.
Something doesn't addup right.
Where are the MULTISTEM TREES that were promised? One can say NOW that IF planting continues like this -Improvements WILL be needed.

[deb]

Thanks for posting. Basically when concerns were raised the planting had only just been started - but not yet finished.
Privet is normally grown as a hedge and works well as such simply because it is multi stemmed. Left uncut it can grow to 15 foot with an 8 foot spread. A tree tends to be thought of as single stemmed i.e. definied by a trunk but if only that type of tree were planted around the boundary, over time there would be no ground level cover but the 'multi stems' will fill that in.
If the planting is finished in a couple of weeks, see what you reckon then, there will still be season left.
I have a meet with the hospital 16 November but you can also be sure that the council WILL be checking that agreed plans have been carried out

[mac]

As stated Debs what has been planted is not 3.to 3.5 m high it is only 1.5 -1.75m high -so lower than the fence not higher as stated by Chris Slavin, and with height factor might as well have not been planted as proper trees (as was promised) are needed. How many years before it gives any form of cover-they are not even planted in a line to try and even make a hedge. As Stated privot and dogwood are SHRUBS -NOT TREES.It has been stated clearly in all letters and correspondencence MULTISTEM TREES- as written in the plans shown to residents
I have already suggested you come to see properly-you just might get a shock/or proper understanding. Len Hartley got a shock how clearly they could be looked into -But this has not been taken onboard, otherwise we would not be having this discussion/problem.Yes planning will be kept in formed/ updated ,as they have been.

[deb]

Len is the man - you don't want to be looked at and they don't want to be looked at either.

Let me be clear exactly what the complaint is. Is it that you have the plans but you do not think they are being adhered to, or that you thought after Len Hartley's visit that he was going to change the plans and hasn't (though he does not have the power to do this by himself, it requires money and approval neither of which rest with him)

I'm going to assume it's the former as the plans and planting not matching seems to be the main concern. Do the plans you have show the species to be used or is Mr Slavin's letter the first time you saw mention of privet because it is use of this that seems to concern you quite a bit. Thing is, we tend to see trees as a plant with a trunk, what therefore is a multistemmed tree, or, if its not on your plans, what multistemmed tree were you hoping to see there? The main point of the planting is privacy. For that you need depth, thickness, height and evergreen and the privet fulfills that need and will be the 4/5m he mentions. The other trees away from the boundary which are the 3.5m from the start ones, will be the native ones Mr S speaks of, that is my understanding. But, as said before and in the letter, planting is not complete. The tall trees may not yet all, if any, be in. You are in a good position MAC, you have a letter stating exactly what the hospital expects to be done. If when the planting is complete it is not done you have the best piece of paper to get it corrected. What Chris Slavin says is what has been paid for and what the council have passed.

I will gladly visit and talk over what you may be able to do, PM me if this explanation has not helped or if you just want to talk any of it over face to face.

[mac]

Hi Debs. Trees have already been planted where they are not on the plan, so already plans not adtered to. As said before I really think you should come down to see for your self.So pm me.
Thanks

[mac]

For General info.-Do you ever feel that some people don't know what the left or right hand are doing. Well some trees that were not being planted until Mid /end of November as stated in letter. Guess what Landscapers back today planting trees in another part of the site. Here has not continued as yet.

[mac]

Debs.What time is the meeting at the hospital on Wednesday?

[Fionarachel35]

Hello, I am a new member on here as I am interested in buying a property on Mercer Drive. I love the house but am extremely concerned about the view as the property overlooks the new Discovery House building. I am very interested in reading all your comments on here about landscaping and was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of excactly what is being planted and will the view of the hospital be obstructed by the proposed landscaping? As it stands i have held back from buying the house as I can't my head around the view and wuld like to understands further what is going on. All replies welcome and thanks in advance.

[mac]

Hi Fiona,I live on the perimeter of the discovery house develpoment. Some others giving opinions live much further back in the develpoment. This is what we received from Chris Slavin N.H.S.
"Chief ExecutiveReceived letter from Chris Slavin 01/11/11stating the "Trust's intent to comply with the landscaping drawingsof 04/01/11.
Then he goes onto state "as previously noted we can confirm that the TREES in close proximity to the resident's properties will all be native,deciduous trees that will form part of the landscaped area of the building. However the "TREES planted close to the Boundary will be potentially be a mixture of the following species:
Alder Buckthorn
Dogwood
Hazel
Privet
Guelder Rose
When fully mature the above tree will reach an average height of 4 to 5m. Hence,they will be above the top of the boundary fence by 1.5 to 2.5m
The trees will be planted at a semi mature level, which is typically at a height of 3 to 3.5 m. This will mean the trees will be above the fence by 0.5 to 1 m until the trees start to develop further. We believe this will provide adequate cover to obstruct the views between the building and the residents properties.
Landscaping works have only just commenced and will be complted towards the end of November at which time we will be more than happy to meet with you to discuss whether any further improvements are necessary"
Have received second letter from Chris Slavin Stating "He has been fully reassured by Len Hartley once landscaping works have been completed in line with the approved drawings" and Len Hartley" will be more than happy to meet with us to discuss " any "concerns and whether any further improvements are necessary "and also "we could make arrangements to speak to Ann Dodds on a face to face basis again re privacy issues re patients and ourselves".

We have received no word from Debs re time of meeting on Wednesday which she in the past said we could attend, nor has she taken up any of the offers to come down to the houses onthe perimter to see from our point of view re the trees prior to the meeting. This was the latest letter we had dated 09/11/11. This is a lovely estate and lovely area .I hope this has been of some help. You can always contact planning they have reocrds and plans there-just contact a Zoe Raygen .Good luck
mAC

[mac]

Sorry apologies debs . update- have received word from Debs re visit. Hopefully we can get it sorted before Wednesday.