A council has banned apple, pear and plum trees from a new £40,000 scheme - over fears the fruits could be used as missiles. Great Yarmouth Borough Council voted to rule only trees with "very small fruit" will be planted in the seaside town - after expressing concerns they could thrown at a passer-by or slipped on.
The decision has been defended by councillors but labelled by others as health and safety gone "bananas". Speaking at a meeting, Cllr Marlene Fairhead asked what kind of trees would be planted as she was worried fruit could be a slipping hazard.
A council officer told her they had received advice that fruit could be "used as missiles", and said that because of this, they had not placed them on streets and they would only be put in the St John's Walled Garden. They would also only be ornamental cherry trees, with very small fruit, the officer added.
The comments were made during a meeting of the council's environment committee who met to discuss a renewed bid to create an "avenue feel" along the town's historic South Quay. The planting is part of a wider scheme to improve the natural environment across the borough and involves adding close to 100 trees along the quayside, famously described by author Daniel Defoe as the finest in England.
The council was given £40,000 of government money to replace those dug up ten years ago when they failed to flourish. Locals were left bemused by the debate. One wrote: "Surely they have more important things to debate than the size of plums?" Another added: "The council have gone bananas."
A council spokesman said: "This tree planting programme is about increasing the number of trees in urban areas. We want to make sure that we choose the right trees."
