Crematorium to Close to Tackle Infectious Tree Disease
Inverclyde Council is to close Greenock Crematorium for three days to tackle a rare and deadly tree disease.
Phytophthoria lateralis is a fungus-like pathogen which kills trees’ roots. Very few trees survive once infected.
Environment & Regeneration Convener Councillor Michael McCormick said: “Until recently the disease was largely confined to Canada and the United States but was first detected in Scotland five years ago in Balloch Country Park. Unfortunately it can be spread very easily through contaminated soil and this is the second outbreak we have had to deal with in the past four years. We very much regret the inconvenience this will cause particularly to grieving families and friends but we really do have no other option.”
The Crematorium will be closed from Saturday 22 August to Monday 24 August to allow tree felling and heavy plant access to over 100 infected trees including 90 Lawson Cypress and all of the seedling trees around the gazebo. Access to the cemetery will be unaffected.
Biosecurity measures will be put in place to minimise the risk of the pathogen being spread from the site by staff but it should be stressed the pathogen poses no threat to the public or pets.
Inverclyde Council has been working closely with the Forestry Commission to tackle the outbreak.
A spokesperson for Forestry Commission Scotland said: “We have visited Greenock Cemetery and Crematorium several times over the last few months and have identified that a number of Cypress trees in the area are infected with Phytophthoria lateralis. We have been working with woodland owners and managers across Scotland to help slow the spread and try to contain the disease. Unfortunately the only way to do this is to fell the infected trees.
“Felling infected trees takes place usually in the autumn and spring before they can generate more of the spores that spread the disease. This is a major part of successfully slowing the rate of spread and reducing the impacts of the disease on other trees and the wider environment.
“Inverclyde Council understand the importance of helping contain this disease. We are confident that they will carry out the work with as little disruption as possible.”
Councillor McCormick added: “ We also need to carry out some additional felling to ensure that the remaining trees are safe and do not cause any danger to visitors or the nearby houses. There will be no cremations on the Saturday or Monday and local Funeral Directors have been notified. Due to the location of the works we have taken the decision to close the Book of Remembrance on the Sunday but this can still be viewed online or alternative arrangements for viewing can be made, we hope that the works will cause minimal disruption to visitors and also the bereaved”.
Symptoms of Phytophthora lateralis infection include foliage appearing slightly lighter in colour than that of healthy trees, then withering and turning reddish-brown. Also, as the infections extends from the roots and root collar up the trunk, tongues of killed inner bark become visible by their darker colour, and the entire trunk can be girdled.
Trees requiring felling include:
90 Lawson Cypress
14 Spruce Trees
8 Pollard Mature Broadleaf Trees