SOUTHEND needs to double its “tree cover” by 2045 to combat climate change, it is claimed.

While Southend Council has promised to plant an extra 1,000 trees, experts suggest far more will be needed.

Tory opposition councillors have since tabled a motion which states more action is needed to deal with the climate emergency declared by the council in September.

Tory group leader Tony Cox said it is a “realistic target”, but could not say how many extra trees would be required.

Councillor Cox said: “I do think this is feasible and this is being looked at nationally, so it is not unheard of.

“It is a realistic target and I think we can legitimately double the tree cover.

“It doesn’t have to be on the streets, it can also be in our parks which has started to happen, but it should be a formal commitment.”

In July, the council urgently halted all non-emergency tree removals after it was found that 3,000 trees had been cut down.

They then approved a one-off £316,850 investment into planting 1,000 new trees.

Councillor Carole Mulroney, who has responsibility for the environment for Southend Council, said: “We have commissioned a ‘tree canopy assessment’ which will help us understand the level of tree cover across the borough. Southend is a densely populated urban area and we have a finite amount of available land.

“So unless we have wholesale demolition of local buildings and assets, doubling tree cover is a very challenging aim.

“But we can enhance and increase tree cover.”

She explained that 130 standard trees have already been planted this season, as well as 1,500 ‘whips’, which is a young tree planted and pruned to grow while also offering the best amount of sunlight. By the end of April 2020, another 700 standard trees are expected to have been planted, along with 4,500 whips and 59 fruit trees.

Jon Fuller, group co-ordinator for South East Essex Friends of the Earth, said: “You just need to walk up and down the streets and you will see plenty of green grass verges and plenty of space. That is where we need them to be planted and we should be greening as many streets we can. This is not just about it being in public parks, we need more trees in every single street if we are going to cool urban environments during extreme heatwaves. There is no need to demolish any buildings.”