Councillor brands campaigners stopping Doncaster tree felling as 'appalling'

Councillor Joe Blackham, cabinet member for highways and street scene, said protesters campaigning on Middlefield Road, in Bessacarr would not engage with dialogue with the council to come to some sort of conclusion.

The council began felling trees back in January but stopped after a leading environmental barrister who represented Sheffield campaigners said DMBC ‘could be breaking the law’.

Bosses at Doncaster Council halted felling but resumed in October after saying the Forestry Commission told them they ‘don’t need a licence’ to carry out the removal in order to fix pavements.

So far, 60 trees along the road have been felled and four remain standing. Campaigners said they would continue to peacefully protest and adhere to Covid-19 guidelines.

Coun Blackham was responding to a question from Conservative Bessacarr councillor, Nick Allen, who said people from ‘outside of the area’ were coming in ‘causing a nuisance’ and asked if the situation ‘could’ve been handled better.

Coun Blackham said: “I don’t concur to suggest we could’ve handled it differently. Extensive consultation was carried out with residents and they supported the consent to move forward, with good reason.

“The reason for removal is damage to the highways and ward members were keen to approve the work.

“It’s regrettable that people who aren’t living in that area are the people who are boycotting the removal.

“There is an ongoing dialogue and I hope we can find a sensible solution as part and parcel in assessment of the trees’ removal.

“We actually brought a protester from Sheffield to Doncaster to express his views and opinions and he felt, as we did, that it was appropriate for the trees to be removed.

“For individuals from outside the area who are not impacted by the removal of these trees to do what they’re doing by stopping the removal of these trees for the benefit of local residents, I find that appalling.

“It’s difficult to have a discussion and a dialogue with somebody that is preferred not to have a discussion and a dialogue but we look at ways to get the removal finished and more importantly to fix the footways to make them safe for residents.”

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