Blame game in'¨aftermath of'¨tree-felling row

Both organisations are insisting the other was responsible for removing vehicles on Rustlings Road in Sheffield after residents were woken before 5am to face demands their cars were moved to allow trees to be cut down.

YP Comment: Sheffield’s tree-felling scandal

The situation has been branded a “disgrace” by Sheffield Lib Dem Councillor Joe Otten who said the public had a right to know who was responsible and whether the actions were lawful.

The fallout from the contentious operation last November went on to create national headlines after a prosecution against two pensioners for obstructing tree felling collapsed when the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges.

The question of who was responsible and what legal powers were used on the day has dogged the authorities ever since and it has now transpired the police and council are contradicting each other.

Responding to a written question from Coun Otten, Sheffield Council’s Labour cabinet member Mazher Iqbal said the police used powers under the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986 to tow cars away.

Pressed on whether a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order had been obtained by the council, Coun Iqbal responded: “The notices were not required as the Police used their powers to remove vehicles.”

But when Coun Otten asked South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings whether he accepted the council version of events he was told: “The Police did not remove any vehicles from Rustlings Road on the 17th November and police powers were not utilised to remove any vehicle.

“However, Sheffield City Council had obtained a road closure order for Rustlings Road and contracted the Mansfield group to undertake the removal of any vehicle that was obstructing their tree-felling activity.”

Coun Otten told The Yorkshire Post: “The fact both the police and the council are blaming each other shows it’s a shameful episode to be associated with.

“Both are accountable to the public and it’s important we know who is responsible.”

“It’s a disgrace that the state can act against residents in the middle of the night and nobody within the machinery of the state can take responsibility.”

The operation on Rustlings Road was part of a long-running plan by Sheffield Council, through private contractor Amey, to remove hundreds of street trees they deem to be dangerous. The council subsequently apologised for what happened and said no future tree-felling work would begin before 7am.

Jenny Hockey, one of the pensioners who ultimately had charges against her dropped, said she assumed the police were responsible for the operation as two officers woke her before 5am to tell her to move her car. It was ultimately towed to another road though she was not issued with a fine.

She added: “They didn’t quote any regulations. It just seemed they wanted me to move the car and get it over with quickly. If I moved it the legalities wouldn’t come into it and they wouldn’t be responsible for the towing. I kept saying this can’t be legal but they didn’t actually respond to that.”