Campaigners take battle to save ancient Wellingborough trees to High Court

Campaigner Marion Turner-Hawes said an up and coming court case was a "marvellous milestone" in their fight to save the trees

Campaigners battling to save an avenue of ancient trees are to take their fight to the High Court.

More than 50 lime trees on The Walks in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, were approved for felling as part of the Stanton Cross development.

Sixteen of the trees, which date from the 1600s, have already been cut down.

Marion Turner-Hawes, from Wellingborough Walks Action Group (WWAG), described the legal challenge as "an enormous step".

"We're delighted to get a chance to get this in front of a judge, to be heard properly, so we can save the trees," she added.

She said no date had yet been set for the High Court judicial review - but it could be in early 2024.

Approval for the development was given by North Northamptonshire Council, with the avenue to be cleared to make way for a dual carriageway.

Approval was given to remove more than 50 ancient lime trees to make way for a dual carriageway in Northamptonshire

Ms Turner-Hawes said it meant a "judge has sat down, looked at the papers, from all parties, and decided there's an important case to answer.

"We want to protect the trees and we're up for finding ways to doing that."

The group was now fundraising for the court fees, and would need to raise about £34,000, she added.

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North Northamptonshire Council said it was waiting to be officially informed about the judicial review by the courts and would "engage with the courts and process".

Council leader, Conservative Jason Smithers, told the BBC: "We are absolutely determined to support the developer to find an alternative route so we don't have as many trees coming down.

"We've looked to minimise the loss of trees and that would be an outcome that would be good for everybody".

The Woodland Trust said a lime tree could be considered ancient at about 300 years old.

A spokesperson for developer Stanton Cross said: "Works on London Road have been paused until the legal challenge has been determined.

"We are unable to comment further while this is ongoing."

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