Update on Chowns Mill vegetation

As part of the Chowns Mill Roundabout improvement works there was a promise to plant a certain amount of trees, plants and vegetation once the work was complete, to enhance the area and mitigate the impact of the vegetation lost during the course of the works.

The status of this vegetation has been monitored since the works concluded. One of our councillors, Cllr Gerald Kelly, has been in liaison with the local MP upon noticing that much of the vegetation planted has since died or is in a poor condition. With the assistance of the MP's office a request was lodged to National Highways to carry out some further planting to replace the plants that have died and the following response was received:

Thank you for your email about the vegetation at Chowns Mill Roundabout. I understand the concerns raised by local councillors about the condition of the vegetation, and I share their disappointment that so many of the plants have died.

We've started to remove the dead plants from the roundabout and will shortly begin to plant new ones in their place. We believe the prolonged period of drought that followed the initial planting was a major factor in why so many of the plants died. However, we're also taking soil samples to identify if there were other factors that may have contributed. This will help to ensure the new plants thrive, and that similar issues don't occur again in the future. We'll be looking to plant the vegetation in November 2025 as this will further increase their chances of survival.