Melton Road tree felling

Feedback updated 8 Sep 2025

We asked

Leicester City Council have identified that improvements are needed to the pavements of Melton Road, between Loughborough Road and Checketts Road, and have commenced a long term, multiyear footway maintenance works programme to be carried out over 7 phases.

The aim of the works is to improve the condition of the pavement, make the relevant sections more pedestrian-friendly, safe to use and tackle significant footway drainage problems.

We consulted on proposals to remove five street trees on Melton Road as part of footway improvement works. The trees were identified because their roots had caused severe damage to pavements, creating trip hazards, ponding, and accessibility issues. Notices were placed on the trees, on nearby streets, and online between 26 March and 30 June 2025. People could respond via the consultation website or by email.

You said

We received 86 responses (82 online, 4 by email). The majority of responses (69) opposed tree removal. The main reasons were:

· The importance of trees for climate, shade, air quality and local character (37)
· Suggestions of alternative solutions such as flexible asphalt or building up the pavement (14)
· Disagreement with the Council’s stated reasons for felling (6)
· Other reasons, including references to religion and comparisons with other towns and cities (7)

A small number of respondents supported removal (4), raised queries about replacement planting (3), or gave unrelated comments (6).

We did

In response to feedback, we carried out further trial excavations around the five trees to see if alternative engineering solutions could allow them to remain. As a result, we will retain three trees by making changes to pavement design and using measures like resin surfacing and street furniture to guide pedestrians safely. However, two trees (outside 161 Melton Road and 197 Melton Road) must still be removed because their roots prevent drainage solutions and create serious safety hazards. To compensate, we will plant six new trees elsewhere in the ward, meaning more trees overall in the long term.

Results updated 8 Sep 2025

Melton Road Tree Felling Consultation – Detailed Summary

Background

Leicester City Council is carrying out a multi-year programme of pavement improvements along Melton Road, between Loughborough Road and Checketts Road. These works aim to make pavements safer, more accessible for pedestrians (particularly older people and those with mobility difficulties), and to resolve ongoing drainage issues caused by tree root damage.

Phases 2 and 3 of the works, scheduled for 2025/26, include 21 street trees. At the outset, five of these trees were identified as likely needing to be removed due to severe root damage that made pavements uneven, hazardous and prone to water ponding. Pruning the roots would have destabilised the trees, leaving them dangerous in high winds.

How We Consulted

On Tuesday 25 March 2025, we placed a ‘Tree Felling Notice’ on the relevant five trees originally identified for removal. The consultation started on Wednesday 26 March 2025 and ended on Wednesday 30 June 2025.

We received a total of 86 responses during the consultation - 82 via the online platform and 4 by email, which mirrored the online feedback. We have addressed the email feedback in our consultation responses.

The responders break-down of locality were as follows: -

A local resident	35
A local business	2
A Leicester resident	30
A visitor to Leicester	10

Other	5

Out of the 82 responses, the following was captured:

AGREE WITH THE REMOVAL OF TREES	4
QUERY REGARDING REPLACEMENT TREES	3
NOT RELEVANT TO THIS CONSULTATION	3
NOT ENOUGH 'CHARACTERS' TO RESPOND FULLY	3
DISAGREE WITH THE REMOVAL OF TREES	69

Our Decision

The Council carried out further exploratory excavation works (trial holes) around the five trees. This was to check whether alternative engineering solutions could allow us to keep more of the trees while still delivering safe and accessible pavements.

Excavation findings Excavation findings

Tree outside no: 189 Melton Road – Based on our trial holes we can install drainage channels at the required line and level and retain the tree. However, the tree roots will protrude above the footway surface, near the kerb line, and will be higher than our footway defect safety intervention level. Balancing the objectives of street tree retention against footway condition and safety, we consider it reasonable for the tree to remain. We cannot install street furniture to protect this area from footfall due to the proximity of the parking bay, which would result in drivers hitting their door when exiting their vehicles. It is recommended it is possible to retain this tree subject to acceptance of pedestrian safety risks associated with a departure from standard footway design.

Tree outside no: 161 Melton Road – Ladbrokes - Based on our trial holes we cannot install drainage channels or other drainage solution at the required line and level. Consideration was made to whether the whole area can be resin bound; however, this will still leave significant footway safety (tripping) hazards and we are unable to properly divert the surface water away from neighbouring properties. It is recommended this tree is removed.

Tree outside no: 197 Melton Road – The Melton Pub - Based on our trial holes we cannot install drainage channels or other drainage solution at the required line and level. Consideration was made to whether the whole area can be resin bound; however, this will still leave significant footway safety (tripping) hazards and we are unable to properly divert the surface water away from neighbouring properties. It is recommended this tree is removed.

Tree outside no: 207 Melton Road - Based on our trial holes we can install drainage channels at the required line and level and retain the tree. However, the tree roots will protrude above the footway surface, near the kerb line, and will be higher than our footway defect safety intervention level. Balancing the objectives of street tree retention against footway condition and safety, we consider it reasonable for the tree to remain. In this location, we can install cycle-racks or other street furniture to help redirect pedestrians away from the residual hazard. It is recommended that is possible to retain this tree subject to acceptance of pedestrian safety risks associated with a departure from standard footway design.

Tree outside no: 129-131 Melton Road - Based on our trial holes we can install drainage channels at the required line and level and retain the tree. However, the tree roots will protrude above the footway surface, near the kerb line, and will be higher than our footway defect safety intervention level. Balancing the objectives of street tree retention against footway condition and safety, we consider it reasonable for the tree to remain. In this location, we can install cycle-racks or other street furniture to help redirect pedestrians away from the residual hazard. It is recommended that is possible to retain this tree subject to acceptance of pedestrian safety risks associated with a departure from standard footway design.

The investigations showed:

· Three trees (outside 189 Melton Road, 207 Melton Road, and 129–131 Melton Road) can be retained if we adopt departures from standard pavement design. This means accepting some residual safety risks but balancing them against the importance of retaining trees.
· Two trees (outside 161 Melton Road – Ladbrokes, and 197 Melton Road – The Melton Pub) cannot be retained. Their roots prevent the installation of necessary drainage, cause severe unevenness, and create trip hazards that cannot be mitigated. Cutting the roots would destabilise the trees and make them unsafe.

This approach means that out of 21 trees in Phases 2 and 3, 19 will be retained. Tree felling is only being undertaken as a last resort, and only where pavement safety and drainage could not otherwise be achieved.

Next Steps

To compensate for the two trees that must be removed, the Council will plant six new trees elsewhere in the ward. These will be in more suitable locations, such as grass verges, where young trees will have a better chance of survival and will not damage pavements in future. Although they will take time to mature, this will result in more trees in the long term.

The waste from felled trees will be recycled for use as mulch in parks and for biomass.

A public notice will be placed on the two trees to be removed

Overview

Leicester City Council will be carrying out pavement improvement works on Melton Road (between Marfitt Street to Acorn Street inbound and Herbert Avenue and Ascot Road outbound side).

The aim of the works is to improve the overall quality of the pavement, make the relevant section more pedestrian-friendly, and tackle any drainage issues. This work will be simillar to recent pavement works carried out in the area.

There are five semi mature Lime trees which need to removed due the severity of the root damage that has made the pavement unsafe for pedestrians, particularly elderly individuals and those with mobility issues. As we cannot cut the radial roots without destabilising the tree, the only option is to remove the tree to make the pavement safe to use.

The five medium-sized, semi mature Lime trees are located on Marfitt Street to Acorn Street (inbound side). It is council policy to replace any felled trees with two juvenille trees. Replacement trees will be planted at more suitable areas in soft verges at locations within the ward or other parts of the city.

The pavements will be restored and street furniture will be placed in the location of the tree removal such as bollards and cycle racks to stop vehicles from parking on the pavement.

The Environmental Act 2021 requires us to consult with members of the public before felling any tree on an urban road (a street tree). See Environmental Act 2021, Chapter 30, Part 6, 115(2) for exceptions to this rule.

We are seeking your views on our proposal to remove these trees.

Areas

Rushey Mead

Audiences

All residents

Interests

Highways
Parks and green spaces
Planning

Contact