I have long suspected we are seeing fewer and fewer trees in Castle Point and the council’s tree planting ban confirms this (Nov 22).

This is disastrous news for residents, as it means the borough is going to become a progressively less attractive place to live and work.

Homeowners in particular should be concerned, as our houses will become less valuable compared to those in other boroughs.

Research has found that house prices in streets with mature trees are between 5 and 18 per cent higher than in identical areas without trees.

It is no coincidence that artist’s impressions of new developments invariably include trees. They know that, without them, people would be less likely to choose to live there and it is not just property prices which are helped.

Trees genuinely have a positive effect on people’s behaviour, reducing crime and improving civic pride.

Town centres with mature trees, such as Rayleigh, are far more inviting to shoppers and I’m afraid the town centres in Castle Point are grim by comparison.

The borough already has far fewer trees per head of population than average and, unless the council changes its policy, this is just going to get worse. It is a depressing and shortsighted policy.

Nick Beach
Falbro Crescent
Hadleigh