Road with dying trees to become 'more vibrant'

Work to remove deteriorating planters, trees, and benches on a town road will make it a more "vibrant" and "welcoming" place to be, a council has said.

Dorset Council announced that work will begin on Monday so new planters and seating can be installed on Victoria Road, Ferndown, later in the year.

Ferndown Town Council mayor Terry Cordery said it was "wonderful" that it was being "refreshed" and that residents would have a "more flexible environment" with benefits for years to come.

The work will see the addition of mature trees and landscaping, along with new seating, on the shopping street.

Both councils said the current street furniture was "beyond repair", and the trees in the planters were "in decline, with many unlikely to survive".

Protecting biodiversity will be a key focus of the new scheme, with "mature, specially-selected trees and sustainable landscaping" aiming to ensure the area is "vibrant, welcoming, and environmentally conscious".

Nick Ireland, leader of Dorset Council, added: "I'm really pleased that this work is starting so early in the new year.

"The removal of the old, unsightly, and unsafe planters and the decaying trees will make way for a carefully designed landscaping scheme, which, incorporating new seating, will make any visit to Victoria Road a more pleasant experience for people and nature."

An engagement exercise by Litter Free Dorset indicated new benches and planters would be popular with residents.

The improvements will be carried out by Ferndown Town Council.

A comprehensive appraisal of the town took place in 2017.

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