Fewer trees are to be felled by Sheffield Council and private contractor Amey following talks with Sheffield Tree Action Group to end the long running dispute. Sheffield Council have put forward new plans to reduce the number of trees to be removed from Sheffield streets following a mediated dialogue chaired by the Bishop of Sheffield. Sheffield Live spoke to Councillor Lewis Bagnall, cabinet member for environment and streetscene and Paul Brooke, co-chair of Sheffield Trees Action Group.
Sheffield Council has revealed up to 17,500 trees could be felled by private contractor Amey, after publication of the street maintenance contract details at the demand of the Information Commissioner. The disclosure follows repeated freedom of information requests by campaigners. Sheffield Council claim the quantity is not a target and that current estimates are for 10,000 trees to be replaced over the 25 year contract period. Baillor Jalloh spoke to tree campaigner Paul Selby whose complaint to the Information Commissioner led to the revelation.
Liberal Democrat peer, Paul Scriven, is demanding South Yorkshire Police explain the deployment of dozens of police officers on Abbeydale Park Rise on Monday, when a row began between tree campaigners and council contractor Amey. Sheffield Live! reporter, Baillor Jalloh, spoke to Lord Scriven.
With cold temperatures and snow arriving from Siberia, gritting lorries have been out in force to prepare for the expected impact on roads and traffic. The met office have predicted the weather will worsen over the course of the week and police have asked people to make journeys only where necessary. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Lynsey Connelly, highways maintenance operations manager for Amey.
Sheffield Council contractors Amey have said any tree protesters found to be in the safety zone attempting to slow down tree felling work will be removed using “reasonable force”. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Icy conditions have led to a spike in complaints about newly resurfaced pavements which are proving to be especially slippery due to the tarmac used. A Streets Ahead spokesperson told Sheffield Live! “Although a rough surface can sometimes be advantageous during periods of snow and ice, we do have to maintain footways in order to ensure that, at any point in the year, they do not provide a trip hazard and they are compliant with national standards. The surfaces we apply are smoother than the old surfaces but they are standard materials which are used extensively across the country.” Baillor Jalloh reports.
A masked campaigner has climbed into the branches of the 150 year old Vernon Oak in Dore in a bid to save the tree from being felled. The oak, a familiar landmark on Vernon Road, is scheduled to be taken down by council contractors Amey as part of its Streets Ahead highway maintenance programme. The tree climbing campaigner says he is ready to stay on the tree for as long it takes to save the tree. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield tree campaigners were out in force on Wednesday at a peaceful early morning picket of contractors Amey at their Olive Grove depot. The action follows the coming into force of a High Court injunction which prevents tree protesters from standing within safety barriers of trees scheduled for felling. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed was at the scene.
The Sheffield Council injunction to prevent direct action by Sheffield tree protesters comes into force on Wednesday following the recent court decision. Campaigners trying to stop the felling of Sheffield trees have announced they will not appeal against the injunction. Protestors standing inside safety zones erected around the trees will risk immediate arrest. Sheffield Live!! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Green Party councillors Alison Teale and Douglas Johnson.
Campaigners have welcome Sheffield Council’s decision to suspend a temporary injunction preventing protestors taking direct action to stop tree felling. A hearing was held in Leeds on Monday with the council seeking a high court injunction to prevent protesters in Sheffield from campaigning at locations where contractors are at work. The injunction will now be suspended pending a full three day civil trial scheduled for 26-28 July. In the meantime no further letters threatening injunction are to be sent out to tree protestors. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed, spoke to tree campaigner and Green Party councillor Douglas Johnson.