The intervention that Vila Nova de Famalicão City Council is carrying out on Avenida de França, which, among other works, includes the requalification of the pavements with a view to improving pedestrian mobility and safety conditions, will involve felling 10 trees that are in an ‘advanced state of decline and fragility’ and are severely limiting pedestrian mobility.
The technical analysis of the feasibility of preserving the trees on the avenue was based on the assessment carried out by the municipality's municipal services and the Phytosanitary Assessment Report drawn up in 2022 by the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD).
Based on this global analysis, it is necessary to cut down 10 trees whose longevity and stability are compromised and whose preservation cannot be reconciled with the upgrading of the pavements.
All the remaining trees with favourable conditions will be preserved and a better infrastructure will be created so that they can grow in a healthy way, namely by widening the boilers, which will contribute to the long-term health of the remaining trees, promoting a more suitable environment for their growth.
It should also be noted that during the works, various protective measures will also be adopted, such as physical barriers and exclusion zones for roots and trunks, in order to prevent damage during excavation work.
‘We didn't take this decision lightly, but the reality is that Famalicão has trees in its public space that are in a fragile condition, that degrade the public space, damage the pavements and are real obstacles to the fluid and accessible circulation of citizens, particularly people with reduced mobility,’ said mayor Mário Passos.
‘The preservation and sustainability of the municipality's arboreal heritage is important, but it's no more important than people's safety and mobility,’ said the mayor.
It's worth remembering that this month the municipality began work to improve Avenida de França.
The contract, which involves a municipal investment of around 158,000 euros and has an execution time of 120 days, includes the implementation of a central separator in the zebra crossing area and infrastructure for traffic lights, the renovation of pavements, parking bays and vertical and horizontal signage.