Tree-felling to resume in city after ‘review’
CONTROVERSIAL TREE-FELLING work in Sheffield will restart next week after being ‘paused’ following clashes between security staff and protesters.
Amey, which is carrying out the removal and replacement of thousands of street trees in the city on behalf of Sheffield Council as part of a £2.2bn highways improvement contract, has said work will begin again following a “review of on-site working practices”.
Amey workers withdrew from work in Meersbrook Park Road earlier this week “in the interests of everyone’s safety” following demonstrations which resulted in both campaigners and employees making allegations to South Yorkshire Police that they had been assaulted.
A spokeswoman said: “Streets Ahead highway improvement works are ongoing across the city. This week, we conducted a regular review of on-site working practices around tree works and so the programme of works was amended whilst this was undertaken. Work on highway trees will continue next week.”
The clashes came after Amey brought in a “specially trained stewarding team” earlier this month to remove protesters going inside safety zones around trees. About 5,500 trees have been removed and replaced with saplings since 2012 but campaigners argue that many removals are unnecessary.
Twenty trees in Meersbrook Park Road were previously referred to an Independent Tree Panel which said 11 could be saved through engineering works. But Sheffield Council has overturned the recommendation in nine cases.