A NEW contract to manage Winchester City Council's 30,000 trees will be awarded at the end of the year. 

The four-year agreement will cost the city council £900,000 and is due for approval at the next cabinet meeting, on Thursday, March 14. 

Its current contract expires on December 31, with the new one starting on January 1.

The widespread ash dieback disease is councils such as Winchester and Hampshire to cut down a large number of trees which could pose a danger to the public. This includes action on St Giles Hill and along many roads.

READ MORE: More than 1,000 native trees planted on Compton Down

In the report to cabinet, it said: “This Framework Agreement will cover the council’s tree management responsibilities across parks and open spaces, cemeteries, sports pitches, estates, car parks and housing. The total value of works over the four years of the contract is expected to be £900,000.

“The cost of tree management works will be covered by existing budgets within individual service areas. However, tree management works are reactive by nature; should existing annual budgets prove insufficient then a further paper on the provision of the council’s tree management function will be brought back to cabinet for decision making and, if necessary, additional budget provision.

“The council is responsible for c.30,000 trees across its land holdings including open space, car parks, housing and estates land. Once works to trees have been identified, the council engages external contractors to undertake the works.”