Hundreds of tree campaigners gathered in a ‘funeral’ procession for trees cut down under Sheffield Council’s Streets Ahead programme. Campaigners, led by a hearse, proceeded through Sheffield city centre to a protest rally with speeches from charities, academics and opposition councillors. 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!
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.
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!
Sheffield City Council has won a court battle to bring injunctions against protesters taking “unlawful direct action” to prevent trees being felled. About 5,000 trees have been cut down after being assessed as diseased, dying or dangerous, but campaigners say some healthy trees have also been lost. Orders have been made against three people, Dave Dilner the chair of Sheffield Trees Action Group (STAG), Green Party councillor Alison Teal and tree campaigner Calvin Payne, plus “persons unknown”. The council say the ruling will prevent “catastrophic financial consequences”. Under the terms of the injunction protesters will be barred from “continuing to take unlawful direct action” or from encouraging others to direct action, including entering “safety zones” erected around trees being felled. Councillor Bryan Lodge the cabinet member for the environment read a prepared statement outside the town hall today. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
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.
Councillor Bryan Lodge, cabinet member for the environment, has defended Sheffield Council’s decision to serve legal notice on 17 tree campaigners including Green Party councillor Alison Teal. Lodge said the council had no other option but to take legal action to prevent protesters delaying the tree felling work. He claimed trespassing across temporary work barriers had the safety of protesters and Amey workers at risk. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Nether Edge and Sharrow councillor, Alison Teal, Green Party, has been served with notice of a proposed legal action to restrict involvement in protests against Sheffield Council’s tree felling programme. The authority is seeking a civil injunction to stop Teal and other tree campaigners from taking part in future protests unless they promise not to engage in direct action to disrupt tree felling by Amey workers. Teal was previously arrested for protesting against tree removals on Chippinghouse Road but charges were later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Tree campaigners were out on the streets again today despite a Sheffield Council threat of injunctions to curb the protests. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!