Tree felling called off as protesters set up camp

The planned felling of an oak tree in a West Yorkshire town has been called off, the BBC understands.

The tree stands close to Otley Bridge - a vital pedestrian and traffic crossing in the heart of the town - which is due to be repaired.

Leeds City Council had planned to cut down the tree on Friday morning, with contractors arriving on the scene shortly after dawn.

However, a group of protesters was found camping at the site, while others had climbed into the tree, preventing the council from taking any action.

The council previously said that the felling of the tree, and a neighbouring tulip tree, was required to make space for the repairs - which include establishing a temporary footbridge.

The authority said the alternative would be to limit traffic to a single-lane on the bridge and set up three-way traffic lights for several months, causing huge delays to drivers.

However, the tree felling has divided opinion in the town.

Some residents have backed the council proposal - out of concern for the impact on local journeys, but others, including the climate action charity Otley 2030, have been very critical of the move.

The trees were initially intended to be felled in December, but the council postponed its plans following the local backlash, saying it would take more time to consider the options.

However, on Tuesday, it announced the felling would go ahead, saying action needed to be taken before the bird-nesting season began at the end of February.

Otley Liberal Democrat councillor Ryk Downes said he had wanted the council to build a second footbridge, but that this option had not been explored.

Speaking to the BBC he said that under the circumstances, chopping the tree down was the "least bad" of the two options available.

The state of the bridge is such that the council believes the repairs must take place before another winter.

"Nobody wants to remove a tree," Downes said. "But the environmental impact of traffic lights on the bridge would be huge.

"Both options are unacceptable but this I'm afraid is the least unacceptable of the two."

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