Lanark’s Marches-blocking tree falls into new row

GETTING rid of a fallen tree which threatened an ancient Lanark tradition has caused a strong complaint to be logged with council bosses.
Blocked...fallen tree across the Stey Brae in March (Pic by Lindsay Addison)Blocked...fallen tree across the Stey Brae in March (Pic by Lindsay Addison)
Blocked...fallen tree across the Stey Brae in March (Pic by Lindsay Addison)

As reported previously, the stormy weather at the start of the year saw one large, centuries-old tree standing at the top of Lanark’s Stey Brae crash onto the hill’s pathway.

This is part of the traditional Perambulation of the Marches route, the Lanimer Week inspection of the Royal Burgh’s boundaries, and the massive obstance would have made this year’s Perambulation, on June 9, impossible.

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Urgent pleas were made to South Lanarkshire Council to clear the tree away, which it duly did - only to run into a hail of protest over what it did with the debris - several tonnes of branches and tree trunk - now chopped to bits.

The farmer who owns the fields on either side of the Brae, Davy Smith of Mousebank Farm, is incensed that the wood was “dumped” into his field next to the Brae.

He said: “The tree wasn’t on my land but the council seem to think it was and now they’ve just left this for me to clear away. I’m 72 years old.”

However, the council insist the tree had been on his land.

For the full story, pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette.