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Sheffield tree felling: Western Road memorial trees 'to be saved' Sheffield tree felling: City's 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. Dozens of trees planted in honour of fallen World War One soldiers are to be saved from being cut down.
The trees in Western Road, Sheffield, were among 23 on the road earmarked for felling and replacement, despite being healthy. The 32 trees in Sheffield, including 20 on Western Road, were among 41 memorial trees 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 after estimating it would cost £500,000 to save them.
Green Party Councillor Alison Teal said it was a "victory for common sense". However, the council said an agreement had been reached with contractor Amey to retain the majority of the trees.
The BBC has approached Sheffield City Council for a comment. Green Party Councillor Alison Teal described the announcement as a "victory for common sense".
The trees, a designated war memorial, were planted in 1919 in memory of pupils at a nearby school who died fighting in WWI. Of the 41 trees under threat six have already been felled and three will be removed as they are decaying.
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. The trees on Western Road are a designated war memorial and were planted in 1919 in memory of pupils at a nearby school who died fighting in WWI.
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." The other trees are on Tay Street, Oxford Street, Binfield Road, Springvale Road and Heathfield Road.
"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. Councillor Lewis Dagnall, cabinet member for Environment and Streetscene, said: "In this, the week of Remembrance Day, I am confirming that we have developed a plan to retain 32 of the 35 war memorial trees that were originally earmarked for replacement.
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." "Amey have agreed to fund the costs of delivering this new agreement, and there will be no additional cost to public money."
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.
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."
Sheffield City Council has previously announced plans to plant 300 war memorial trees in the city's parks.