During the Public Forum section of a Hale Parish Council Meeting Held on Monday 20 October, Peter Platt of Hale Carnival Committee, proposed a donation of a “Peace Tree” on behalf/from the Carnival Committee,, to be placed on the village green opposite the park entrance, to honour the war dead from Hale and Hale Bank. Peter Plattwent on to explain, in detail, the meaning of the tree, it’s variety and future purposes for the village.

Below, Peter Platt has provided the village website, with the item he read out in the Public Forum section of the Parish Meeting of 20the October.

“Tree Donation
Proposed Planning Permission.
Scope:
To purchase, deliver and plant a tree on the Village Green that being the intersection of
High Street and Town Lane, Hale Village, Liverpool.
(ref: DEFRA Village Greens collaboration register – green registration No 33).
Note 1, there are three village greens in the Parish of Hale as identified on the DEFRA Register 2006, all of which are listed as ‘not disputed’.
The tree will serve as a living memento and permanent fixture and will be a contribution to the village people of Hale in recognition of support of Hale Village Carnival.
Note 2, Hale Village Carnival dates back to 1952 and is one of the oldest of its kind in the country.
The preferred and recommended species of tree will be that of a Nordman Fir.
The tree will be illuminated over the Christmas festive period from the third week in December through to the twelfth night.

Method:
The tree will be purchased by Hale Village Carnival Committee and planted by an authorised supplier as recommended by:
Halton Borough Council Environmental sub committee – Trees and Woodlands.
The tree will consist of a rooted ball type of which will be sited @equidistant between the pointed apex of the green and the associated freestanding memorial sited stone.
The tree of approximate dimensions 2m in height and 1.5m across the base of its diameter will be so positioned as not to interfere with the maintenance of the green and its current permanent fixtures.
Maintenance of the tree albeit of low activity will be paid for by the Carnival Committee, but consideration may be undertaken by Halton Borough Council (see note 5 below).
Decorative lighting will be supplied and paid for by the Carnival Committee utilising an approved electrician to carry out all works in association with an approved installation assessment of risk.
Cost of utilities, insurance and power required for lighting will be paid for by the Carnival Committee.
Storage andmaintenance of the lighting will be provided by the Carnival Committee.

Reasoning:
We are just one of a number of activity groups who have the interest of the village at heart.
The village is missing a truly English tradition that being an illuminated tree over the festive period within the focal point of the village that being the Village Green.
Note 3,We have certainly lost some of the spirit in this particular village of ours, being overly pre-occupied with sterile responses of a minority who are overlooking the real elements of contributions made by other activity groups from within the community.
Note 3.1 Majority public opinion?
A tree will enhance the village not just at Christmas but all year round.
Note 4, trees were historically planted within the village by the Ireland- Blackburne family in memory of loved ones.
The tree will be used for charity fund raising during its illumination service.
Charities of choice will be the beneficiaries.
The tree will be called the ‘Peace tree’ because of its proximity of location.
Details of the tree and its purpose will be displayed informatively to, in particular visitors to the village.
Halton Borough Council recognises the important contribution made by trees to the environment and is committed as the sustainable custodian of this resource location which it owns or influences.
Note 5,maintenance of the green is currently supplied by Halton Borough Council.
The Peace Tree is innovative and will add a new dimension to Hale Village and Halton Borough Tourism and Leisure points of interest.
There used to be a tree on the green sited by other community groups during the festive period and now this principal has been lost.

Sitting and Risk Assessment
Other sites within the village have been identified and assessed but none of which lend their position to support the purpose of the sitting of the tree:
i.Outside the village Post Office
(would only serve the benefit of Post Office, historically this location is supported by the illumination of the crib).
ii. Outside the park gates
(would encroach onto a public highway restrict emergency service vehicles/ no electrical supply)
iii.Outside the shops on Ivy Court
(hard standing only any fixture would require additional support, no electrical supply, no real intent or purpose).
iv.On the Wellington/Childe of Hale Public House grounds
(benefit only to the proprietors/ no intent of purpose).
v.the green (known as Ciss Green) adjacent to the Wellington bus stop
(unoccupied space not really visible/ no electrical services provided).

The chosen site therefore is the preferred site being the Village Green (High Street and
Town Lane) which offers logistical services and has an element of purpose and reasoning in support of its location.
This Village Green site due to its recent refurbishment of 2004 should already have archived planning permission in place and an assessment of risk in respect of the current activity already on the green. Therefore the current assessment should only require amending to include the planting of a tree of which should define the same residual risks to that of the temporary sitting of the Cross short term over the Easter period.
Potential risk therefore involves:
road traffic accidents/traffic flow through the village past the Village Green,
electrical surcharge resulting in fire
extensive tree growth
adverse weather conditions resulting in uplifting of the tree and uncontrolled release of illuminated lighting.
potential vandalism

Corrective actions and control measures resulting in identified low priority risk:
traffic – calming currently enforce upon approach into the village.
electrical – low voltage lighting governed by circuit breaker and earth leakage.
growth – tree growth maximum 3 to 4 inches annually.
weather – tree will be planted to a recommended tree growth depth by an approved horticulturist, illuminations will be secured to foliage using cable ties.

Remaining residual risk takes into account that of potential vandalism
Current control measures include the perimeter railings around the circumference of the Village Green.
To date there are no adverse reports with regards to criminal damage to permanent fixtures already on the green, eg.flag pole, memorial and stones, gun, iron railings and greenery etc.
Respect is well observed during the weeks following of laying of poppy wreaths on Remembrance Sunday held in November.
Points to consider:
Restoration has been made as a result to an event which involved damage to the village sign from a few years ago.
Accidental damage was reported during the sitting of a tree in 1988 of which caused detachment of the memorial headstone caused by a passing public service vehicle making contact with trailing electrical service wires to the tree located at height.
Vandalsim or accidental damage including anti social behavior is ever preset, but collectively voluntary groups such as ours whose only objective is to enhance the attributes that this village has to offer, compile to be a deterrent in its own right. Accountability on a wide scale which includes floral displays around the village, the temporary sitting of the Easter Cross as described above and the illuminated crib have all succeeded through the scope of risk management.
This project already has a high level of historical interest sustained, supported by control measures in order to reduce low to medium levels of risk to a minimum.

An approved risk assessment regarding this project should be signed byHalton Borough and Hale Village Parish Councils and consequently archived.
The assessment should be reviewed every three years and/or if further refurbishment is made to the site.

Conclusion:
For effectiveness and communication purpose this proposal and minutes of response in association of this project is requested to be published on the Hale Online web site.

Peter Platt
Environmental Health and Safety Associate
(on behalf of Hale Village Carnival Committee)”

Hale Village Online will not be held responsible for any comments expressed by the person posting in the blog, or the outcome or result of the experimental online poll.

The opinions expressed and polling results connected with this item, are not necessarily the opinions of Hale Village Online or it’s owner/s

Peace Tree – Light up a Life

The concept of ‘Light up a Life’ is to pay respect and  to remember a lost loved one over the festive period, at the same time supporting charities of choice through  our gratitude.

The process is to invite people to the ‘Village Green’ where tree baubles can be purchased and hung personally on to the tree. Each bauble will have hand written by you, the name of the person you want to remember during this time. The inscribed bauble will then have its place on the tree that being the
‘Peace Tree’ until the twelfth night.

A charity of choice will nominated as the beneficiary of all monies raised in response to your respect.

Organisation details, days, dates and times of the Light up a Life event will be communicated personally by event organisers, taking into account the importance the village school and church plays within our community. Encouragement under guidance and supervision will therefore be given to the children and youth of our community to assist in the organisation and running this event.

Further details including scope, method and resulting residual risk in conjunction with service providers to the village will be approved closer to the Light up a Life commencement date.

Many thanks in anticipation of your support.

Peter Platt
(nominated spokes person for Hale Village Carnival Committee).