Council to start storm blown trees clear up in Huntly next week

ABERDEENSHIRE Council is to start the process of clearing trees blown down during storms at the end of last year and earlier this year.

First to be tackled in the Huntly area is the Battlehill where work will begin on Monday.

Despite the efforts of a local man who cleared many of the trees blocking paths in the Battelhill, much of the popular wood remains inaccessible and numerous trees are hanging on others, posing a danger.

A request has been made to Aberdeenshire Council to make some of the timber extracted available for the re-building of the Battlehill Huttie.

Work to clear fallen trees in the Meadows area will not take place until July.

Starting on July 4, and programmed to take until August 12, a horse logger will be brought in to haul out the timber.

Sites in the Rhynie area are due to be cleared in June.

Councillor Gwyneth Petrie said: "I have had a lot of queries about when the trees which fell would be cleared and was previously advised it would be summer time.

"There is a huge demand for the services but hopefully these dates stay on track and people can return to using these areas safely again."

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