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Sheffield tree felling: Western Road memorial trees 'to be saved' | Sheffield tree felling: Western Road memorial trees 'to be saved' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Twenty trees planted in memory of fallen World War One soldiers are to be saved from being cut down, the Green Party has said. | Twenty trees planted in memory of fallen World War One soldiers are to be saved from being cut down, the Green Party has said. |
The trees in Western Road, Sheffield, were among 23 on the road earmarked for felling and replacement, despite being healthy. | The trees in Western Road, Sheffield, were among 23 on the road earmarked for felling and replacement, despite being healthy. |
Councillors voted in December 2017 to remove the trees saying they would be too expensive to save. | Councillors voted in December 2017 to remove the trees saying they would be too expensive to save. |
Green Party Councillor Alison Teal said it was a "victory for common sense". | Green Party Councillor Alison Teal said it was a "victory for common sense". |
The BBC has approached Sheffield City Council for a comment. | The BBC has approached Sheffield City Council for a comment. |
The trees, a designated war memorial, were planted in 1919 in memory of pupils at a nearby school who died fighting in WWI. | The trees, a designated war memorial, were planted in 1919 in memory of pupils at a nearby school who died fighting in WWI. |
According to council documents, the cost of retaining the 23 trees and 18 others planted in surrounding streets was in the region of £500,000. | According to council documents, the cost of retaining the 23 trees and 18 others planted in surrounding streets was in the region of £500,000. |
Ms Teal said: "This is a complete U-turn from last December when Council Leader Julie Dore rejected the community's pleas to retain the war memorial trees." | Ms Teal said: "This is a complete U-turn from last December when Council Leader Julie Dore rejected the community's pleas to retain the war memorial trees." |
"Of course, if the Western Rd trees can be retained, there is absolutely no reason why hundreds of other, equally healthy trees should not be saved too," she added. | "Of course, if the Western Rd trees can be retained, there is absolutely no reason why hundreds of other, equally healthy trees should not be saved too," she added. |
Paul Brooke, of Sheffield Tree Action Group (STAG), said: "This is a huge victory for local campaigners, many of whom have campaigned for more than three years." | |
Since 2012, about 5,500 trees have been cut down under the city council's felling and replacement contract aimed at improving roads and footpaths. | Since 2012, about 5,500 trees have been cut down under the city council's felling and replacement contract aimed at improving roads and footpaths. |
The trees have been assessed as either dangerous, dead, diseased, dying, damaging or discriminatory. | The trees have been assessed as either dangerous, dead, diseased, dying, damaging or discriminatory. |
However, campaigners say many of the trees classed as damaging or discriminatory are healthy specimens which should not be cut down. | However, campaigners say many of the trees classed as damaging or discriminatory are healthy specimens which should not be cut down. |
The dispute led to a number of protests resulting in the authority announcing a pause in the programme earlier this year. | The dispute led to a number of protests resulting in the authority announcing a pause in the programme earlier this year. |