Protest ends as Seven Dials elm felling put on hold

12:00pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Ben James

Protesters up the tree near Seven Dials Protesters up the tree near Seven Dials

Campaigners have ended their tree-top protest after council officials agreed to meet to discuss alternatives to felling the historic elm.

The two activists, who had been camped out in the 150-year-old tree since Wednesday night, came down on Friday evening.

Brighton and Hove City Council officers agreed to take a look at alternative proposals and set a meeting for this Friday.

Council leader Jason Kitcat also called on residents to come forward with ideas to keep the tree while at the same time carry out the agreed works.

The elm tree, which sits on the side of the junction, was due to be chopped down as part of the Seven Dials roundabout improvements.

The council’s transport committee unanimously voted through the proposal in January after it was argued the tree obstructed views and was damaging the pavement.

However, significant public pressure, which included the support of Green MP Caroline Lucas, has persuaded officers to re-visit plans.

Tom Druitt, one of those camped in the tree’s branches, said: “We’re really pleased. If it wasn’t for the dedication of a number of people that tree would now be nothing more than logs.

"However, we can’t celebrate yet – there is still a danger.”

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Keep the tree

The Argus reported that Mr Druitt had left the tree at the time of going to press on Friday.

He explained yesterday (March 10) that he had actually left the tree to set up this Friday’s meeting with officials.

He added: “We think we have covered all their concerns and presented them with a number of ideas which would make it possible to keep the tree.”

Speaking to protesters on Saturday, council leader Jason Kitcat, said: “Since then (the transport committee) there has been an outpouring of concern about the future of this tree.

“So we have paused any action which may affect this tree until March 15 and we are calling on anyone who has any ideas on how we can keep this tree as part of the safety scheme to come forward and we will consider them.”

The city has one of the largest collections of mature elms after escaping the worst of Dutch elm disease in the 1970s and has the National Collection of Elms.

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Comments(13)

rolivan says...
12:22pm Mon 11 Mar 13

There is an easy solution which would involve being able to only exit from Vernon Terrace thereby creating a space alongside the tree which would not only save the tree but enable pedestians to cross there,

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Bob_The_Ferret says...
12:31pm Mon 11 Mar 13

rolivan wrote:
There is an easy solution which would involve being able to only exit from Vernon Terrace thereby creating a space alongside the tree which would not only save the tree but enable pedestians to cross there,
Making Vernon Terrace one way was part of the original proposal, but was roundly rejected, since this would divert significant levels of additional traffic into residential side streets.

It comes to something when the scheme, which was overwhelmingly rejected by locals was forced through, with the safety of blind pedestrians and children completely disregarded by the council, yet they will now listen the the protests of some tree huggers.

They should chop the tree down while they are holding their meeting. It may be old, but is is not 'historic'. It causes a serious obstruction where it is, and its removal is about the only positive thing about the scheme. Parents with prams will then be able to get past, and people waiting at the crossing will be seen. We don't want extra traffic forced down our local streets, just for the sake of an old tree which might be dead in a few years time anyway.

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rolivan says...
12:41pm Mon 11 Mar 13

So why listen to people and I don't mean me, they are also dying as well,from the minute they are born,

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theleftygiraffe says...
12:47pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Bob_The_Ferret wrote:
rolivan wrote:
There is an easy solution which would involve being able to only exit from Vernon Terrace thereby creating a space alongside the tree which would not only save the tree but enable pedestians to cross there,
Making Vernon Terrace one way was part of the original proposal, but was roundly rejected, since this would divert significant levels of additional traffic into residential side streets.

It comes to something when the scheme, which was overwhelmingly rejected by locals was forced through, with the safety of blind pedestrians and children completely disregarded by the council, yet they will now listen the the protests of some tree huggers.

They should chop the tree down while they are holding their meeting. It may be old, but is is not 'historic'. It causes a serious obstruction where it is, and its removal is about the only positive thing about the scheme. Parents with prams will then be able to get past, and people waiting at the crossing will be seen. We don't want extra traffic forced down our local streets, just for the sake of an old tree which might be dead in a few years time anyway.
Yeah, because trees do every now and then do decide to just die.

The tree doesn't block or obstruct the path at all. I would know as I walk past it most days in a week.

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Fercri Sakes says...
1:50pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Simple solution. Buy part of the front garden of the house opposite the tree, and use that space instead.

We keep the tree (good for local tree enthusiasts), we get the new roundabout (great for pedestrians) and we have a bit more room to get past that bloody tree (great for the rest of us).

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upsidedowntuctuc says...
2:08pm Mon 11 Mar 13

U turn for Tree Huggers here The Transport Committee got it wrong did not read their papers and voted it through.
However the vast majority of residents wake up to 20MPH zones and object no chance of any compromise let alone U turns!
Squirrels mean more than residents..Well Davey was in the Tufty Club!

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paul76 says...
2:11pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Simple solution is to leave the tree and the junction as it is. There is nothing wrong with it.

How does it obstruct views? If the traffic light goes to red and the little man goes green cross the road, as I believe the crossing is signal controlled.

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Fercri Sakes says...
2:18pm Mon 11 Mar 13

paul76 wrote:
Simple solution is to leave the tree and the junction as it is. There is nothing wrong with it.

How does it obstruct views? If the traffic light goes to red and the little man goes green cross the road, as I believe the crossing is signal controlled.
I think the new design replaces these crossings with a zebra crossing.

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Crystal Ball says...
2:36pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Fercri Sakes wrote:
paul76 wrote:
Simple solution is to leave the tree and the junction as it is. There is nothing wrong with it.

How does it obstruct views? If the traffic light goes to red and the little man goes green cross the road, as I believe the crossing is signal controlled.
I think the new design replaces these crossings with a zebra crossing.
If there is a zebra roaming around the Seven Dials it will cause havoc to the traffic.

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bug eye says...
4:11pm Mon 11 Mar 13

move the tree to the middle of the roundabout, it will look amazing. It does not obstruct the view for drivers as they are looking at the road not the pavement and the umberella of foliage of the tree is up in the air. Just leave the road layout, enlarge the roundabout and take out all the clutter. simple.

Highways your pedestrian lights outside the holiday inn hotel on the seafront are not working properly, going to red when no one pressed to cross, causing unnecessary pollution. why do we need 4 sets of lights there?? Your lights at Kingsway/wharf road, are not working properly either, causing traffic to queue unnecessarily. What other lights are not working.??

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billy goat-gruff says...
4:17pm Mon 11 Mar 13

It causes no more obstruction than any of the other urban trees dotted around Brighton and Hove - leave it alone!

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jbo2013 says...
4:31pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Here is the solution: http://bit.ly/ZfB0mj

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Somethingsarejustwrong says...
8:14am Tue 12 Mar 13

The tree should be removed as a slap in the face to the protesting miscreant population.

What kind of message does it give out when due process is followed, decision reached and then backed out because a few lefties start hugging trees?

Ridiculous

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