Tree needs the chop, now!

ENOUGH is enough: terminally ill Mrs Zelem is at war with Oldham Council over this tree

A FAILSWORTH ward councillor is calling on Oldham Council to get rid of a huge tree making a terminally ill woman’s life a misery.

Karen Zelem (52) moved into her bungalow on Warwick Road, Failsworth, three years ago as she was suffering with cancer and couldn’t easily use stairs.

Mrs Zelem fought off the illness, only for it recently to return more strongly. She is suffering from terminal liver, bone and lung cancer.

Regardless of this another problem has literally hung over the heads of Karen and her husband Peter (53) for the last two years. A huge tree regularly sheds branches close to their home - six times in the past year.

Warren Bates, councillor for Failsworth West, said the tree needs to go - but Oldham Council says the tree is healthy and won’t cut it down.

Councillor Bates said: “I believe this problem is causing her health to deteriorate. We shouldn’t worry about trees when a woman is terminally ill. We can put more trees in other areas of Failsworth, somewhere they don’t hang over someone’s garden. I’m backing her 100 per cent. I really feel for the lady and I will do all I can to help.”

Karen said: “It’s a safety concern more than anything. Obviously it’s annoying having branches land in the garden but our concern isn’t potential damage being done to the house.

“I don’t know how long I have left so I could really do without having to worry about a branch breaking off a tree and injuring me if I go in the garden.”

Mr and Mrs Zelem have made numerous complaints to the council, but the tree is healthy and doesn’t worry their neighbours

“We consulted with local residents and the majority wished to keep it as it is beneficial to the amenity of the area.

Mr and Mrs Zelem referred their complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman, who found no fault in the way the council acted and agreed the tree should remain.

Mrs Zelem added: “Other residents may have been consulted and they may have said they want it to stay but this problem doesn’t affect them.”