Glasgow’s climate convenor is being urged to sign up to a national tree planting initiative which helps organisations and residents plant and water trees on their street.
During Thursday’s full council meeting, Bailie Christy Mearns asked councillor Angus Millar if he would “commit” to the Trees for Streets scheme which helps to capture carbon, and absorb pollution while creating shading and cool places to sit or stand.
The organisation also hosts sponsorship schemes on behalf of local councils.
READ MORE: Glasgow council reject call for more local control over police
Councillor Millar said he was not able to commit to any model at the moment but reaffirmed Glasgow’s dedication to increase the planting of street trees throughout the city.
At the meeting, Bailie Mearns said: “Given there is already a workable, successful and affordable template available, which other cities have successfully used, will the convenor please commit to signing up to trees for streets even for a trial period.
“[And] When will the council website be available for members of the public to suggest planting locations, particularly on the street as per the commitment within the tree plan that was mentioned.”
Councillor Millar reminded members that there are a number of different [street tree planting] models which work in other cities but there are cost and technical implications for the council to consider before entering into an agreement with any external provider.
He said: “We have had encouraging early conversations with a number of different initiatives which we are looking to continue and indeed the council is committed to looking for different ways both to secure additional funding as well as finding new approaches to scale up the pace of tree planting across the city.”
The Glasgow City Region has already pledged to plant ten trees for every man, woman and child in the City Region as part of a new urban 'forest' to tackle climate change.
Around 18 million trees will be planted over the next decade, increasing woodland cover in the region from 17% to 20% over the next ten years.
Speaking about the council’s new approach to street tree planting, councillor Millar confirmed that the city administration was dedicated to increasing the number of trees planted and securing external resources to support their agenda.
He continued: “Officers have undertaken discussions with representatives of groups such as Trees for Streets and other similar initiatives to explore options and possibilities to increase our tree planting programme in line with the tree planting commitments.
“On street trees in particular, there continue to be a range of technical and design considerations to work through as well as various different parts of the council which come together to address some of the barriers and indeed as I previously stated I as convenor have tasked the department and officers to work through some of the barriers that we have identified.
“While officers are currently focused on developing additional funding mechanisms to enhance the pace and scale of tree planting in the city, the council’s technical design, parks and development and sustainability teams will engage around opportunities to increase street trees.”
READ NEXT:
Five people injured at Glasgow train station after escalator malfunctions
East Kilbride physiotherapist died in burning car after getting day pass from psychiatric hospital
Glasgow police chase £300,000 McLaren supercar 'doing 140mph' on M77
Lanarkshire dad shares son's heartbreaking final words hours before he took his own life
Worried friends of 'vulnerable' Lanarkshire man fly out to Lanzarote in bid to find him
