Family's pride in late tree campaigner for exposing Sheffield Council scandal

The family of a late Sheffield tree campaigner whose complaint exposed how the council misled the public over its strategy for removing thousands of street trees in the city have said he is a “hero” for bringing the truth to light.
The late Alan Robshaw, whose complaint led to the damning findings against Sheffield Council this week.The late Alan Robshaw, whose complaint led to the damning findings against Sheffield Council this week.
The late Alan Robshaw, whose complaint led to the damning findings against Sheffield Council this week.

Retired architect Alan Robshaw, who was an expert in highway design, complained to the Local Government Ombudsman about the circumstances surrounding the removal of eight trees on his street in a 5am raid by council contractors in November 2016.

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His daughter Rosie said: “My Dad was a very professional, and committed man who, even during cancer treatment was determined to ensure the Ombudsman had every single bit of information needed. Hearing the roars of the chainsaws outside his house in the early hours that morning began the determination to seek the truth.

Mr Robshaw was an architect for 40 years.Mr Robshaw was an architect for 40 years.
Mr Robshaw was an architect for 40 years.

“He believed in honesty and fairness and knew that what was being done was wrong and unfair. I’m so glad the Ombudsman has proved him right. He is our hero and I’m proud to call him my Dad.”

Rosie said her father, who retired in 2014, had worked on the refurbishment of the Sheffield Arts Tower, one of the city's best-known buildings, and was a keen traveller in his spare time.

The removals on Rustlings Road were conducted as part of a £2bn highways project run by council contractor Amey despite the council’s own Independent Tree Panel saying only one needed to be felled.

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The wider work saw around 5,500 trees felled and replaced with saplings - 2,000 of which were healthy but deemed to be damaging pavements or road surfaces. Felling work was paused in spring 2018 after international condemnation of the council’s approach as increasing protests saw dozens of police officers and private security guards sent out to support council operations, with multiple arrests of demonstrators made.

A new approach designed to retain trees has subsequently been introduced, with hundreds of previously-threatened trees saved from the axe through fixes such as kerb repair work.

One of the key findings from the Ombudsman was that prior to the change in approach, Sheffield Council had made the “unacceptable” decision to publish documents claiming trees would not be removed until 14 potential fixes were considered by its contractor.

The Ombudsman said these options were never part of the Streets Ahead contract and the council had now acknowledged “its contractor would never use some of the ‘solutions’ referred to”.

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Green Party councillor Alison Teal, who the Labour-led Sheffield Council applied to have jailed in 2017 for breaching a protest injunction only for the case against her to be dismissed, said today: “I’d like to offer my gratitude for the expertise and tenacity of the late Alan Robshaw to his family.

“This legacy of truth which his efforts have gifted to the city provides a clear picture of the Labour Council’s wrongful behaviour towards tree campaigners.”

Coun Teal today called for the resignation of council leader Julie Dore.

She said Coun Dore’s approach to the issue “has undermined any confidence in her ability to provide the city with the leadership needed to rebuild trust and faith in the council”.

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Council leader Julie Dore retains the faith of Labour councillors, says one of her cabinet members.

When asked about the calls for Coun Dore - who is due to stand down as leader after the next elections - to resign now, Coun Mark Jones, cabinet member for Environment, Street Scene and Climate Change at Sheffield City Council said he did not believe that was the right course of action.

“I don’t think the resignation of any one person for whatever reason would make this go away. The reality is we have to learn and be better.

“Julie was elected at our AGM to lead the party - of course she is supported.”

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Thank you

James Mitchinson

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