TREES: Council blunder as residents consulted on trees a day AFTER they were axed

Residents on a Sheffield street were asked what they thought about tree felling - the day AFTER five trees were axed.
5 trees on Newfield Green Road in Heeley have been felled the day before residents received a new survey asking what they think of tree felling and if the trees should stay. Pictured Phil Shaddock, John Dryden and Dave Dillner.5 trees on Newfield Green Road in Heeley have been felled the day before residents received a new survey asking what they think of tree felling and if the trees should stay. Pictured Phil Shaddock, John Dryden and Dave Dillner.
5 trees on Newfield Green Road in Heeley have been felled the day before residents received a new survey asking what they think of tree felling and if the trees should stay. Pictured Phil Shaddock, John Dryden and Dave Dillner.

Householders on Newfield Green Road, Heeley, received letters about the city council’s new independent tree panel, which has been set up in the wake of the ongoing felling controversy.

Residents across the city are being asked for their views, and if 50 per cent of people on a street have concerns about the felling planned, it will be referred back to the panel for reconsideration.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But on Newfield Green Road the letters arrived too late, as several trees had been taken down the day previously.

John Dryden, of Save Heeley Trees, said: “Residents have been asked if they want to keep these trees when half of them have already gone - it is abysmal.

“They just did not understand why they had got the letter to give their views when the work had already started.

“They can’t even consult people properly - it is worse than a joke.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Residents across the city have raised other concerns about the independent panel - saying it is ‘inappropriate’ and gathers only the view of a household rather than individuals.

On Rustlings Road near Endcliffe Park, where the tree felling protest first began, many residents have not received a letter. On Rivelin Valley Road, where 31 trees are set to be axed, just a handful of residents will decide their fate.

While a chairman of the panel has been confirmed as Andy Buck, the other members are not yet known.

Many people have also asked for felling to be paused while the survey and panel process was completed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Today Sheffield Council confirmed that such work would stop, apart from when it comes to dead and dangerous trees.

A spokesman said: “The council formally requested that felling be halted, except for dead and dangerous trees, for the surveys to take place, with effect from the afternoon of Wednesday December 2. We can confirm that routine maintenance such as pruning will also still continue.

“These trees on Newfield Green Road were felled in the morning of the December 2, and that has caused a resulting and unfortunate overlap with the survey.

“There is however five trees on Newfield Green Road that do fall into the dangerous and dead categories and these do need to be removed for safety reasons.

“Residents are now being consulted on the remainder of the proposal and all future survey letters will be amended to detail that dangerous and dead trees will still be felled.”