Fight goes on, say tree protesters as Mayor claims deal

PROTESTERS who blocked the felling of trees on Doncaster racecourse said the fight would go on yesterday, despite claims of an agreement from Mayor Peter Davies.

A group of local people stopped council workers chopping down trees in the centre of the racecourse earlier this month, claiming they had not been consulted over the scheme.

Last night, the group reacted angrily to comments made by Mayor Davies suggesting the row was over, and said they would continue with their campaign.

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Mayor Davies had said he wanted to remove trees from Town Moor golf course, which lies in the centre of the town's racecourse, to clear a view of the track for racegoers.

But his opponents said he had no right to do so and work has been halted and the Forestry Commission called in to launch a probe into a previous tree-felling exercise.

Mayor Davies said he met with members of the golf club last week, although he refused to allow campaigners to be involved in the talks and asked for them to be removed.

He said the golf club agreed with his plans and added: "I am delighted the golf club is working in partnership with us to develop an ecological plan which includes the removal of some trees.

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"This work is important both to the borough's economy and to preserving the natural heathland and grassland on the site. We are continuing discussions with the Forestry Commission and other partners to enable this to happen as quickly as possible."

But campaigner John Anderson, who took part in the direct action, said that as far as his group was concerned, no agreement had been reached.

He added: "The Forestry Commission has formally told the council to stop. They are now going to come to the site and survey where trees have already been cut down and work out whether an environmental impact assessment is required.

"If that takes place it could take weeks or months. There is a management plan already for this site which says that some trees have to come down and we accept that – but not great swathes of trees which will disappear just for the benefit of those going to the races."