Killer tree stump alert

Sep 4 1990 By Leyla Yildirim

Hounslow on Friday, June 15

Worried mums in Hounslow's Blossom Waye have attacked council bosses for leaving a 'killer' tree stump spreadeagled across the pavement.

The claim the jagged trunk could catapault kids on bikes to their detah as they race around a 'dangerous' corner which runs slap bang into the tree.

It was after February's hurricane storms that the giant tree was struck down into the road.

Then council workers chopped up the branches but left the huge 'monstrosity' jutting out of the kerb.

Now outraged families fear the stump could be a death trap for kids and pensioners and demand it gets the chop.

Angry gran Mrs Lenon, 83, whose daughter Sheila Herbert lives in front of the hazard, fumed: "I'm appalled that the council have taken such a casual attitude to this potential death trap.

"There are dozens of young kids with bikes in this area, it's only a matter of time before one of them is seriously injured by this hideous tree trunk.

"We had councillors come down and promise us it will be removed, but it has been stuck there five months now and nothing has been done.

Refused

"We're at our wits end - last week workmen removed stumps from the other side of the street, but they refused to touch ours - it's just not good enough."

But a spokesman for Hounslow Council insisted that the tree trunk would be removed within the week.

"Since the storms we have had a lot of trees to clear. These things take time, but we have appointed a contractor to remove the stump from Blossom Waye."