Haringey Liberal Democrat members of the Alexandra Park Board have expressed concern in a letter to the management of the Park after vehicles for an event had been parked perilously close to newly-planted trees.

Ten to twelve lorries that transported the Chinese State Circus equipment to the Palace before the Easter Weekend have been parked around the young trees, and the others on the ‘carriage drive’ road inside the west entrance of Alexandra Palace Park. Lib Dems say that the lack of thought and planning is likely to damage the growth of the trees and are alarmed that more care has not been taken.

Cllr Bob Hare (Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Green Issues) comments:

“These very large and heavy vehicles have been parked within inches of trees planted just a few months ago. In several cases, the vehicles are actually touching them. Wheels have been driven over the root zones of the new trees – something that will have compressed the soil, almost certainly affecting growth.

“These trees were planted as part of the Heritage Lottery-funded restoration works in Alexandra Park. While the lorry drivers have performed some driving that reached circus-trick standards in managing to squeeze their vehicles into the ridiculously tight gaps between the trees, they should never have been allowed to do so when there are hard-surfaced car parks lit at night for security just a few metres away.”