Campaigners reject treescompromise

Concerns remain over felling scheme

ENVIRONMENT: Tree campaigners in Sheffield have rejected a council compromise plan for felling, saying the proposals will still see “too many healthy trees felled for questionable reasons”.

The announcement came ahead of new inspections of dozens of trees previously listed for felling.

TREE CAMPAIGNERS in Sheffield have rejected a council compromise plan for felling, saying the proposals will still see “too many healthy trees felled for questionable reasons”.

The announcement came ahead of new inspections of dozens of trees previously listed for felling but that may now be reprieved starting today.

It is the latest chapter of a long-running dispute about the removal of thousands of street trees in the city and their replacement with saplings as part of a £2.2bn highways improvement project also involving work to the city’s roads, pavements and street lights.

Tree-felling in the city by council contractor Amey was put on hold last March after the issue came to national attention when dozens of police officers and private security guards were used to support operations in the wake of growing protests.

Around 5,500 trees have been felled since work began in 2012, with about 2,000 of them healthy but deemed to be damaging pavements and road surfaces. That position is challenged by protesters who argue many were removed unnecessarily.

Mediated talks between the council, Amey and representatives of the Sheffield Tree Action Groups organisation subsequently took place before the council put forward new proposals in MEMBERS OF STAG will accompany Amey tree specialists as they begin technical inspections on underthreat street trees today.

Amey Streets Ahead Account Director Darren Butt said: “The additional Amey funding will allow us to use new and existing engineering treatments in a much more flexible way, monitor trees closely and re-apply treatments where possible.

“We should be able to retain trees for an indefinite period as long as the highway remains at a good standard. Crucially, we will still be delivering the long-term benefits of the Streets Ahead contract at no extra cost to Sheffield’s taxpayers.”

December to retain almost 90 of 300 trees currently listed for felling and said the removal of others would be delayed. Engineering solutions, regular monitoring and ongoing maintenance work paid for by Amey will be used to save trees that were previously going to be removed.

But leaders of STAG have now said its members are unhappy at the council’s proposed way forward, saying it will still result in healthy trees being removed.

Chris Rust, a member of the STAG negotiating group, said: “During the talks we tried to explain to Sheffield City Council that their ideas were not likely to win over campaigners. However they were determined to push on with the scheme they had worked out beforehand, rather than discuss what might gain agreement.

“Once the confidential discussions were over and the plan was made public we had a storm of feedback from tree campaigners. They are not prepared to stand by and see healthy trees felled.”

One key area of dispute remains over a contract requirement which prioritises highways work delivering straight pavement kerbs over saving trees. The council has agreed to relax this temporarily but campaigners want a permanent policy change.

Prior to the STAG announcement, Coun Lewis Dagnall, cabinet member for environment and street scene at Sheffield City Council, said work on a new street tree strategy is to begin this year.

“The inspections are the first step in what we hope to be a promising year for the city’s street trees, where we will see a large proportion of trees retained,” he said.

He said the new inspections were part of “a more collaborative approach” to the issue.

We had a storm of feedback from campaigners. Chris Rust, Sheffield Tree Action Groups’ representative.