Judge to rule on '˜national scandal' of Sheffield tree-felling plan

A council tree-felling programme in Sheffield has been dubbed a "national scandal" by former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.

Labour-controlled Sheffield City Council says the programme is essential if Sheffield’s 36,000 street trees are to be managed for future generations. Bosses say trees scheduled for felling are dying or diseased or pose dangers.

But protesters have launched legal action in the hope of persuading a judge to stage a review - and Lib Dem MP Mr Clegg, who represents Sheffield Hallam, has raised concerns.

Mr Justice Gilbart is due to consider evidence about the dispute at a High Court hearing in London on Tuesday.

In February, Mr Clegg said he had emailed council leader Julie Dore and told her: ‘’When I helped to secure the £1.2 billion of Government money to fix Sheffield’s roads, no one expected that money to be used by Sheffield City Council to chop down hundreds of healthy mature roadside trees against the wishes of the public. This project was meant to be good news for Sheffield but under your watch this has become a national scandal.”

A Sheffield City Council Labour group spokesman had responded by saying plans to replace trees were drawn up by the Lib Dems when they were in control in 2009.