- City Council ignore public opinion and chop down more trees in city, despite widespread resident opposition.
- City Council claims 14 saplings will replace the 12 mature trees felled.
- Green Party’s popular tree motion has been “kicked into the long grass” by both Labour and Conservative administrations.
The South East Essex Green Party and local residents have voiced their “incredible disappointment” in Southend City Council after the Labour Council ignored a petition signed by hundreds of residents and cut down seven mature ash trees in Vernon Road.
A petition was set up by resident and local Green activist, Simon Gittus, after he was made aware of the mature trees potential demise.
“I was devastated to hear the news, and instantly tried to do something to stop the chop. My grandparents lived on Vernon Road and I have fond memories of these trees as a kid. Unfortunately, the council has ignored the petition and has taken the wrong decision to axe the trees.
These trees, much loved by residents, are now gone forever. Any saplings planted now will take decades to reach the same maturity as the ones axed. This has a serious and irreversible impact on air pollution, biodiversity, and the visual character of this residential area.”
Simon Gittus, Green Party Activist
A public argument between Green activists and the City Council has now broken out. Removal notices were displayed on the trees themselves, but were not listed on the City Council’s website due to an “admin error”. Following public upset, the Council now claims that the trees were infected with ‘Ash Dieback’ but the council has yet to produce any evidence of test results for the disease.
Leigh Councillor for the Green Party, Cllr Richard Longstaff says;
“The story keeps changing; firstly it was about pavements, then it was conveniently Ash Dieback, then the trunks were too large in diameter – the Council knows they’ve messed up and are clutching straws to find anything that may justify their actions.
“As a council we need to be transparent with the public, especially when we are removing our community’s natural assets. It is worrying that the council officers did not place notice of their removals on the website – I dread to think how many trees are being removed without residents being informed.
“It’s incidents like this where there has been little scrutiny in officers recommendations, or sufficient evidence provided, that encouraged me to submit my Tree Motion to Full Council last September, but unfortunately it has been kicked into the long grass by both the Tories and Labour, ignoring the will of the Councillors who voted for it over a year ago.”
The local Green Party continues to push for any tree that may be towards the end of its natural life for its decline to be properly managed, so that it is swapped out over a period of years to allow for any saplings to mature sufficiently.
– ENDS –