“The Sheffield Street Tree Partnership, which was formed following the Sheffield street tree scandal, has been sadly and wrongly sidelined in a recent planning decision”, says Green Party Councillor Marieanne Elliot. This is despite the Council actually being a part of the Partnership.
The other partners are Amey, the Woodland Trust, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Sheffield Tree Action Groups and the volunteer Street Tree Wardens.
The Planning Application was for a new University of Sheffield building on land adjacent to Hounsfield Road, Leavygreave Road and Upper Hanover Street. As part of the planning application there was a proposal to remove a number of good quality London Plane Trees along busy Hanover Way. This was objected to by both the Sheffield Street Tree Partnership and the Sheffield Tree Action Group (STAG), amongst others.
The Street Tree Partnership were concerned at the loss of mature trees that had at least another 40 years of life. Jon Johnson, representing STAG, described the existing trees as “a valuable asset to the city”
Councillor Marieanne Elliot said,
“The Sheffield Street Tree Partnership was formed to address many of the concerns that came out of the Sheffield street tree scandal – we need any plan to be endorsed by the Partnership.
“The Planning Committee was asked to agree to the development without a clear understanding of exactly which mature trees are going to be removed on Favell Street. We were also lacking any detailed plans about the proposed new trees. Putting the right trees in the right place is absolutely crucial – this is something that requires professional ecologist input – before proposals are brought to the Committee for a decision.
“It was for this reason that I proposed a deferral of the decision so Councillors could be given all the information we needed to properly determine the application. This would also mean that the Street Tree Partnership would be able to give their valuable input.
“I am naturally disappointed that the majority of the Committee did not share my view and that they approved the application without all the facts in front of them. When the Street Tree Partnership is dismissed in this way, it makes me concerned that the lessons from the Sheffield Street Tree scandal have not been properly understood.”
