Skip to content

Planned tree felling postponed after objections

Cameron Weldon
BBC News, South West
BBC Campaigners gather on the pavement next to the three trees that are due to be felled. There is more than ten people there along with two dogs. They are holding paper leaflets saying "Stop the Chop" and a cardboard placard reading "We love our trees." There is a police car parked in the road some council workers in the background. BBC
Campaigners gathered to protest against the proposed felling

Plans to cut down three trees in Cornwall have been postponed, following objections from campaigners.

Three Lime trees were scheduled to be felled on Trelawney Road in Falmouth earlier but the works were cancelled following an intervention from the police.

Cornwall Council said the trees were due to be removed because the roots were causing damage to the pavement and road as well as a nearby property.

Deborah Newman, from the Stop the Chop Campaign formed by local residents, said she was delighted and "can't believe the trees are still standing".

Up to 50 protesters, who opposed the council decision, gathered on the street as workers arrived to remove the trees.

Devon and Cornwall Police said officers "liaised with contractors at the scene and advised them that the felling should not occur until further discussions had taken place between the relevant parties".

They added "the decision is a matter for Cornwall Council".

Ms Newman said they asked the council to provide the ecological report but they were yet to receive it.

A close up photo of a man stood outside. The man is bald with a brown and grey beard and is wearing a black coat. There is a tree out of focus in the background, along with other greenery.
Cornwall councillor Laurie Magowan said "the steps being taken are not proportionate"

Laurie Magowan, Cornwall councillor for Falmouth Arwenack, said there were lots of concerns about the "justification and proportionality of the action being taken".

He said: "The steps being taken are not proportionate in terms of the impact on the highways, footpaths and nearby residents."

Magowan said: "Some tough questions need to be asked with some real answers before anything can progress and any consideration for these trees to be taken down given the current context."

A close up photo of a lady. She is stood in front of an outside wall. She has blonde hair and is wearing an orange scarf while wearing a white coat.
Deborah Newman from the Stop the Chop Campaign said she was relieved the trees were still standing

Ms Newman said there was so much concern because "people care about the environment in which they live".

She said "it's been exhausting getting answers out of the council".

Cornwall Council said it had reviewed alternative measures and the removal of the trees was a "last resort".

It said: "We have legal duty to ensure that trees growing on footpaths and within the public highway do not pose a potential hazard to pedestrians, traffic and nearby properties.

"We have reviewed alternative measures such as root removal and root barriers, but unfortunately these works cannot be undertaken without compromising the health and integrity of the trees as well as creating further hazard to members of the public."

The council said the trees would be replaced by "four trees planted in specialist tree pits".

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].

More on this story
Related internet links