Stay of execution for historic Brighton elm (From The Argus)
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Stay of execution for historic Brighton elm
5:31pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Protesters up the tree in Vernon Terrace
A historic tree has received a further stay of execution.
The 150-year-old elm in Vernon Terrace, Brighton, was temporarily saved after two protesters camped in it for three days last week.
Brighton and Hove City Council proposed to fell it as part of a wider revamp to make the Seven Dials roundabout safer.
After a behind the scenes meeting between campaigners and town hall lawyers today, a temporary reprieve has been extended until April 2.
After more than 1,250 people signed a petition, this will mean it will be discussed by all 54 elected members of the local authority at a full council meeting on March 28.
Campaigner Millie Ferguson, of Addison Road, Hove, said: “We are more than happy as I did not want them to go back up the tree again tonight.
“It’s good that we are talking and we are pleased that the whole council will be involved in the decision.”
Campaigners said no councillors, only unelected officials attended the meeting.
About 20 people gathered at the tree after it as a sign of support to “continue to share the glory of the tree together”.
Geoff Raw, an executive director of the council, said: “We are listening to concerns and ensuring that the issues surrounding this project are fully understood. Any matters raised will be carefully looked at by council officers.”
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Comments(11)
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
12:36am Sat 16 Mar 13
The party's name is mud....peat free of course.
george smith
says...
7:35am Sat 16 Mar 13
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:This one tree but what about the hundreds in wild park, which have gone to make way for sheep, which will end up in the food chain? This is also the green party that tried to turn the bin men veggies on Mondays.
This story is now all over the national news as Green Party want to cut down 170 year old tree. The party's name is mud....peat free of course.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
9:59am Sat 16 Mar 13
But why would te Greens care. They want to build on green spaces and cut a tree down.
fredflintstone1
says...
10:55am Sat 16 Mar 13
fredflintstone1
says...
11:03am Sat 16 Mar 13
Maxwell's Ghost wrote:I was told that the travellers have now been able to get their caravans on to the 39 Acres field (next to Wild Park) for the first time because the council staff and workers cutting down the trees had been driving repeatedly back and forth over the bunding and flattened it.
And the travellers are back on Wild Park and have been for weeks as we enter the most important season growing season for trees and plants and the start of the breeding season for animals.
But why would te Greens care. They want to build on green spaces and cut a tree down.
upsidedowntuctuc
says...
11:27am Sat 16 Mar 13
Can we survive another 2 years of these idiots??
Bob_The_Ferret
says...
11:46am Sat 16 Mar 13
If this action to save just a tree is successful, surely the implementation of the whole scheme should be stopped and re-scrutinised by the council.
fredflintstone1
says...
3:15pm Sat 16 Mar 13
Bob_The_Ferret wrote:Absolutely 100% right.
More people signed the petition objecting to the entire scheme. This was debated by the full council, who directed the transport committee to take it into account. They didn't and have ploughed ahead with the scheme regardless.
If this action to save just a tree is successful, surely the implementation of the whole scheme should be stopped and re-scrutinised by the council.
RK_Brighton
says...
4:45pm Sat 16 Mar 13
Just chop it down now and get on making the roads safer.
Plant 100 somewhere else if we must - it'd probably be cheaper to do this than fight battles over this tree.
Anyone got a big chainsaw (and probably a couple of cranes) to go and safely chop it down in the middle of the night?
thevoiceoftruth
says...
5:06pm Sat 16 Mar 13
RK_Brighton wrote:There is no evidence that the tree has contributed to any accidents in its lifetime. Any accidents that occurred are most likely due to human error and stupidity. Even if you cut down every tree on every street, there will still be accidents.
It's a debate about a tree and road safety. Trees, no matter how old should be put first before the safety and well being of people.
Just chop it down now and get on making the roads safer.
Plant 100 somewhere else if we must - it'd probably be cheaper to do this than fight battles over this tree.
Anyone got a big chainsaw (and probably a couple of cranes) to go and safely chop it down in the middle of the night?
Martha Gunn says...
11:08pm Fri 15 Mar 13
This episode will enter the text books of local government as a case study in incompetence and indecision. And a model of the problems of dodgy alliances of interests running councils.