Dog walkers and golfers move in to stymie 'Doncaster Common Chainsaw Massacre' as stand-off escalates

ON the one side are Doncaster’s mayor Peter Davies and racing enthusiasts, on the other a diverse group of dog-walkers, golfers and enraged locals.

And yesterday the two groups clashed as the long-running battle over trees in the middle of Doncaster Racecourse stepped up a notch.

Three days before a meeting to discuss the row was set to take place, the tree fellers moved in, but were stymied by protesters.

The two sides were in deadlock for hours, until the workmen eventually left. It is understood they plan to return this morning.

Dot Pound, one of those involved in yesterday’s protest and a member of Town Moor Golf Club, said: “He gave an assurance he would not take any more trees until after a meeting on Thursday, but come Monday morning they were back.

“For more than 100 years this has been an area which everyone has been able to enjoy. People enjoy the ambience of the area, it is common land belonging to the people of Doncaster and it is a wildlife habitat.”

Protest groups include Friends of Town Moor and some from Town Moor Golf Club. Some members expect many will give up membership if the trees go, because it will leave the course too easy to play.

Ms Pound said there were concerns that Mr Davies is head of the management body at the racecourse and so has a conflict of interest, acting as mayor to make changes to common land which gives the racecourse an advantage at the expense of amenities enjoyed by others.

Yesterday, Doncaster Council representatives turned up with a police officer and protesters were told not to interfere with their work.

Tree fellers tried to cordon off part of the area, but ended up with some of the protesters inside the tape, so then left.

Mr Davies said yesterday that the trees had to be felled for the good of the racecourse, which is the “jewel in the crown of Doncaster.”

He said: “We’ve got a Grade I-listed racecourse, the premier racecourse in the North of England, but upwards of half the action takes place out of the sight of any spectators.

“This should never have been allowed to happen. This is gross negligence on the part of the council in the past, and I’m trying to restore the racecourse to its former state – where there were no trees and people had a clear view.”

The mayor, who said he cancelled his own racecourse membership a few years ago owing to the restricted view, added: “Even the commentators on Channel Four have remarked on the situation. The whole thing brings Doncaster into the category of laughing stock.

“It’s like going to Doncaster Rovers and finding there’s trees planted halfway across the pitch.” He added that the council’s biodiversity officers had inspected the trees and said they created problems for rare plants on the same area.

Mayor Davies said: “The protesters down there don’t listen to anybody – they have their own agenda. I believe the Lib Dems have been down there, causing trouble and wandering around in sandals.

“It’s the usual suspects that are moaning, no doubt they’re refugees from Greenham Common.”

He added that as compensation for the trees being felled, new trees would be planted outside Town Moor and on other areas of the racecourse.

He also said that he hoped there would be a “constructive discussion” with the golf club.

Mr Davies added: “These trees should never have been there in the first place.

“It appears there are people in Doncaster who have no interest in improving the economy of the town but are determined to put obstacles in my way at every turn. They will not succeed. The trees are coming down.”

Liberal Democrat ward councillor Ken Able, who was at yesterday’s protest, described Mayor Davies’ actions as the “Doncaster Common Chainsaw Massacre.”

He added: “This mayoral system is at odds with democracy. We wanted to enhance the area, using everyone’s positive contributions, but then he’s come along and said unilaterally that he’s chopping down all these trees.”