Group wants transparency over town tree felling

Residents are concerned over the loss of trees

Campaigners are calling for Cornwall Council to be more transparent about why it is planning to fell three trees in Falmouth town centre.

They took to the street on Saturday as part of their campaign to stop the felling of three 60-year-old trees on Trelawney Road, scheduled for November.

Stop The Chop said the council had agreed an out-of-court settlement with a third party, which they believed was with a resident and included a payment of as much as £100,000.

The authority has said the tree roots affect utility cables. Following a meeting with the group, council leader councillor Leigh Frost said the authority was legally obliged to remove the trees but would plant four new ones.

The council has previously had to halt the work following protests.

Stop the Chop campaigners were joined by Falmouth MP Jayne Kirkham, mayor Alan Jewell and councillor Laurie Magowan to protest the felling

The campaigners' comments about transparency followed a meeting they held with Frost and transport member councillor Dan Rogerson.

Following the meeting, Frost said the new trees would be planted in the upcoming planting season of October to March.

Deb Newman from Stop the Chop said: "It's gone beyond the felling of three trees. What situation has Cornwall Council got itself into that it can't now back out?"

She added: "Essentially it's about an out-of-court settlement and a private arrangement between Cornwall Council and a nearby property owner that includes felling three perfectly healthy protected trees and a payment for reasons unknown at this point."

County councillor for Falmouth Arwenack Laurie Magowan said: "The questions that have been asked of Cornwall Council haven't been answered in terms of their legal justification and the legitimacy of felling the three trees."

He disputed the council's claim that there were problems with utilities.

He added the authority had not given him "the right information at the right time to help support and engage with the community".

Falmouth mayor Alan Jewell said: "There are loads of trees around which are perfectly okay and all of a sudden you've got these particular trees in this particular part of town next to this particular property which are causing this issue."

'Reality'

Truro and Falmouth MP Jayne Kirkham said constituents were "worried if we take down street trees it will set a precedent".

"We want to be building up our street trees, not taking them down," she said, adding they were concerned "about the reasons behind it".

Council leader Frost said: "Councillor Rogerson and I were grateful for the opportunity to meet with campaigners and listen to their concerns.

"I really wish I could deliver news of a change of council position, but the reality is we have a legal obligation to remove these particular trees and we need to balance our legal responsibilities with our commitment to protect Cornwall's environment.

"I want to be absolutely clear that this does not mean we're embarking on a wider programme of tree removals."