A plaque commemorating the actions of protestors during the Sheffield Street Tree protests has been unveiled at Sheffield Town Hall. Sheffield City Council plans to fell thousands of street trees were thwarted following a concerted campaign by local people.
The plaque says
“In recognition of the courageous campaigners who saved thousands of street trees from wrongful felling by Sheffield City Council, and as a reminder to all that such failures of leadership must never happen again.”
Green Councillors ensured that a plaque would be installed when they called an emergency council meeting to discuss the Lowcock Report – an independent inquiry into the street trees dispute – also secured by Green Councillors.
Proposing the plaque, in 2023, Gleadless Valley Green Councillor, Paul Turpin, said,
“This plaque is a recognition of those who fought for our environmental heritage and who were vindicated for doing so. It will also serve as a reminder to all Councillors and members of the public that this failure of leadership should never happen again. Now is the time to fix the things that are broken.”
Green Party Councillors Angela Argenzio, Marieanne Elliot and Douglas Johnson were present at the unveiling of the plaque, with many of the Street Tree Campaigners,
Cllr Marieanne Elliot said,
“The plaque is a really important mark of democracy. The street tree battle is now a significant part of Sheffield history and it was a real testament to people power.”
Cllr Douglas Johnson said
“This is about standing up to abuses of power and it is about affecting change. It is about Greens saying ‘we need to do something to recognise all the hurt that people have been through on the trees campaign and that’s why Greens have supported the campaigners to get it installed.’”
