Tree felling campaign may be uprooted

CAMPAIGNERS are set to fail in their bid to have four crab apple trees on Stannington Road in Sheffield felled.

A petition bearing 63 signatures was submitted to Sheffield Council, calling for the four trees to be removed due to “seasonal anti-social behaviour”.

Protesters said that, during the summer and autumn, groups of youths pick apples from the trees and throw them at houses and vehicles.

However, at a meeting of Sheffield Council’s west and north area planning board on Tuesday, planning officers will recommend that the trees are to stay, as felling healthy trees is against the authority’s policy.

The report set to go before that meeting says that an inspection was carried out by a council “team manager” in August last year, and although some of the lower branches have been cut off the trees, Sheffield Council “has a policy of retaining healthy trees wherever possible”.

The planning officers’ report adds: “Currently all maintenance work on highway trees is prioritised on a health and safety basis, which in this context refers to the structural integrity of the tree and its potential to fall and cause accident or injury.

“There are 1,825 crab apple trees planted on the highway throughout the city. Each year Street Force turns down numerous requests from residents to remove crab apple, cherry and horse chestnut trees for reasons of fruit fall.

“It is proposed that the request to remove the four crab apple trees on Stannington Road is not approved, as this is currently contrary to council policy and could set a precedent regarding other fruiting trees located on the highway.”