Don’t axe Twinkle Street’s lovely trees
I AM appalled that Sheffield has proposed felling trees planted in memory of World War I soldiers (Mail). The city where I live has lost more than 5,500 beautiful mature roadside trees in a frenzied felling programme. If that is not bad enough, this week contractors appeared with chainsaws saying the cherry trees decorated with fairy lights in Abbeydale Park Rise, which raise money for a hospice, must be felled before Christmas. Families come from miles around to see ‘Twinkle Street’. Children have been reduced to tears by this heartless official action. Campaigners have never objected to dangerous, diseased or dying trees being removed, but most of those felled have been healthy specimens causing minor problems such as uneven paving. Simple solutions have been ignored as it appears it is more profitable to fell as many trees as possible in order to hit a target of 6,000 by New Year’s Eve. The council set up an independent panel, which declared many trees could be saved, but its findings were ignored. Arboricultural experts have said most of the trees are healthy and there is no need for felling, but this was also ignored. It appears nothing can be done to stop this shameful vandalism. Residents have been roused before dawn and told to move their cars so fellings can take place. Two ladies in their 70s were arrested for standing in front of a tree in an effort to stop it being felled. Sheffield City Council has taken out injunctions against some of these peaceful protesters. The 120-year-old Huntingdon Elm — one of only four in the city to survive Dutch elm disease — will go. The 150year-old Vernon oak is facing being cut down because just one kerbstone has been pushed out of alignment. The proposed desecration of the World War I memorial trees has been opposed by 98 per cent of locals. The council seems to think planting 300 replacements in parks is acceptable, but the memorial trees are irreplaceable because they embody the spirit of the soldiers who gave their lives for their country. Their relatives have seen the trees flourish and grow. This is one of the most destructive episodes in the city’s history and is causing so much distress. SUSAN RICHARDSON,
Sheffield.