THIRTY dead elm trees in Wellington have to be removed quickly to stop any threat of disease spreading.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s environment and open spaces committee heard that the trees had to be taken down from the Basins Allotment boundary.

Town clerk Dave Farrow said: “They need to be removed and removed quickly because the disease might spread.

“We have to move quickly on this and crack on.”

Councillors agreed to spend £1,280 on having the trees removed.

Wellington Town Council took on the responsibility of 64-acres of land – known as the Green Corridor – for public use last year covering an area stretching from Tonedale to Hilly Head and includes parts of The Basins nature reserve.

The committee discussed various issues with the Green Corridor project at its latest meeting including its work with the Wellington Community Food Group to establish a community farm on the land.

Part of the discussions involved spending £3,000 from the Green Corridor budget to pay for the installation of stock-proof fencing around the community farm pilot area.

Mr Farrow said the fence would run the boundary of the field to stop dogs and other wildlife from getting in and by the farm’s pilot area there would be an “electric rabbit-proof fence.”

Cllr Janet Lloyd, in reference to the £3,000, said: “This community farm is turning into a money pit.”