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 City Council have reversed plans to fell some of 300 trees originally earmarked for replacement and to phase in the work on others. The decision has come after several mediation meetings between council officials and tree campaigners. The Sheffield Trees Action Group, STAG, said they welcome the council decision but will continue to campaign to save healthy trees. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield council have sent letters to fourteen people, including Nether Edge and Sharrow councillor Alison Teal, threatening a further injunction to prevent tree felling protests. The campaigners have been asked to give a written undertaking not to engage in tree protests in order to avoid the Council taking legal action. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
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.
Sheffield Council leader Julie Dore and chief executive John Mothersole have been in fresh talks with Sheffield Trees Action Group to address complaints about tree felling. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
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 Council are seeking fresh prosecutions of tree campaigners for allegedly breaching a recent injunction relating to tree felling. Simon Crump from Myrtle Road and others were handed the legal notices today after crossing safety barriers on Meersbrook Park Road set up by council contractors undertaking tree felling works. The court injunction was issued in August to eighteen people including Councillor Alison Teal after they previously crossed safety barriers in a bid to stop the felling of trees. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
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.
Green Party councillor Alison Teal and Sheffield Trees Action Group (STAG) chair Dave Dilner have vowed to appeal a High Court decision preventing ‘direct action’ protests against tree felling. Teal and Dilner expressed disappointment at the ruling in Sheffield Council’s favour allowing injunctions to be granted against them, Calvin Payne and “persons unknown”. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Dozens of people joined a protest outside the Town Hall as part of the campaign to halt the felling of trees by Sheffield Council and contractor Amey. The protest follows a threat of legal injunction sent last week to 17 people, including Green Party councillor Alison Teal, which seeks to prevent action to disrupt Amey from carrying out their work. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!