Two MPs call for halt to tree-felling in city

TWO SHEFFIELD Labour MPs have called for a halt to tree-felling work in the city.

Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh and Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield have both called on Labour-led Sheffield Council to pause work and begin talks with local residents.

It comes after it was revealed the council’s highways contract with Amey which started in 2012 contains a target to fell 17,500 street trees in the city and replace them with saplings by the end of its 25-year term.

In recent weeks, dozens of police officers and private security guards have been attending treefelling operations in Sheffield, with heated scenes and several arrests of protesters made.

Ms Haigh said: “The scenes taking place on the streets of Sheffield are troubling and it is simply untenable for the fellings to continue in this way. This dispute cannot be solved by ramping up security. That why I believe that the only possible solution is a halt in the fellings and meaningful mediation with local residents going forward.”

Mr Blomfield said: “I would also like to see a pause in the work for more discussion to resolve the current conflict, putting the views of residents on affected streets first.”

He added that he had been “disturbed” by reports of the “apparent contractual requirement to replace 17,500 trees at a rate of no less than 200 a year”.

“Any target of this sort is clearly unacceptable,” he said.

The council says trees are only replaced when they are either dead, dying, diseased, dangerous or damaging the highway. But campaigners argue felling is being carried out to save money.