A PRIMARY school plans to remove trees over- looking its new £500,000 dining hall after one toppled in strong winds.
No one was hurt when the tree was uprooted on Thursday, causing slight damage to a van belonging to contractors putting the finishes touches to the dining facility at The Green Way Academy.
Headteacher Simon Bush stressed that the fallen tree was nowhere near the playground, but he intends to leave nothing to chance and will be arranging for other trees to be removed as a matter of urgency.
He said: "Our priority is clearly the safety of our children.
"We've also spent half a million pounds on a new dining hall, so the last thing we want is a tree landing on the roof."
Mr Bush said a tree surgeon was called in last week to inspect trees on the 21st Avenue site after a resident raised concerns.
"The tree surgeon told us a series of very tall and well- established trees – four or five of them – were safe," he said.
"Unfortunately, one of them has been brought down in strong winds, which suggests they are not as stable as we thought.
"Our plan now is to take drastic action and take down the other trees, removing the risk of the them falling either on to the new dining hall or our perimeter fencing.
"We also, of course, do not want trees damaging neighbouring properties."
The Green Way Academy, as the name suggests, prides itself on its green credentials.
But Mr Bush said there could be no compromising on safety.
He said: "We will replace the trees will small saplings.
"It's clear when we stood back and looked at the dining hall that the trees nearby are too tall."
Mr Bush said parents did not appear worried by the toppled tree, which happened as East Yorkshire was battered by 60mph gusts.
"No parents showed any concern," he said.
"It was clear no one was put in any danger."
As a precaution, Mr Bush told staff to keep pupils inside on Thursday because of the windy weather.
As previously reported in the Mail, parents have been thanked for their co-operation after the opening of the dining hall was hit by unexpected delays.
As a result, children are being asked to bring packed lunches until after Christmas.
