[DAVETHOMAS90]

I'm sure that many UKB members - whether living in Sheffield or not - will be aware of the programme of tree felling in Sheffield, as part of the road maintenance contract awarded to Amey by Sheffield City Council.

There has been a lot of high profile campaigning. I wanted to provide some information and useful links for anyone who wants to get involved, or just find out more about the situation.

This first post is just to highlight the situation to anyone who wasn't already aware, and hopefully to provide a few links to follow, so they can sign up to the various action groups - go to the STAG (Sheffield Tree action Groups) website, and give your details to receive alerts and updates.


http://www.wildsheffield.com/what-we-do/south-yorkshire-biodiversity/planning-and-policy/sheffield-street-trees

http://www.savesheffieldtrees.org.uk/

http://sheffieldgreenparty.org.uk/issues/streets-ahead-the-battle-for-our-street-trees/

https://en-gb.facebook.com/savesheffieldtrees/

https://twitter.com/saveshefftrees?lang=en

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCplN5aAUlR3QqaSBdVBU3mw/videos


My intention isn't to provide an opportunity for mud-slinging - unless otherwise appropriate        - but hopefully to encourage debate, and to make it easier for people to find out what's going on.

Personally, I was unaware of the full scope of works until very recently. For those who don't know, every tree you see with a red or yellow ribbon around it, or a heart with "Save Me" written on it, is a condemned tree. There will be many others of course. I'll try to provide more information and useful links.

Given the history of active campaigning against tree felling, by climbers at sites such as Newbury, I thought that many UKBers would want to do what they can to support the great efforts of all those already involved and active. I haven't mentioned names, solely to avoid missing anyone out!

Share this, obviously.

Dave T.

For Nether Edge trees:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdaCONJ-lr5IG2SUkFZFiqwRLqyCLu9qo0hlB-WBuGVgqczIA/viewform?c=0&w=1

[DAVETHOMAS90]

This matters.

In a contract worth £2bn over 25 years, felling the trees appears to be a convenient way for the contractor, Amey, to cut costs while meeting the output specification.

Who knows, perhaps that isn't the primary motive, but there certainly seems to be a lack of consultation and research into alternatives to felling the trees.

There are democratic concerns too, with respect to how PFIs are drawn up.

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/aug/15/treeconomics-street-trees-cities-sheffield-itree

[mrjonathanr]

Quite. 3 down..
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,10191.6275.html

[dave]

As far as I know it's the case that the original contract signed with Amey says in it they can cut down X number of  thousand trees (25k?). Contract probably shouldn't have been signed like that giving SCC no control over what they cut down (like many PFI contracts signed in recents years), but now it has, basically, even if they wanted to SCC can't stop them cutting stuff down unless they cough up umpteen million to buy out of the contract, which will not happen.

So we're probably stuck with Amey for the duration of the contract (40yrs?) cutting down whatever trees they want. Also annoys me that all these mature trees they're cutting down are probably netting them good cash for the wood, which is public property.

[DAVETHOMAS90]

Quite. 3 2 down..
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,10191.6275.html

Good to see some responses to what is a very important issue.

I'd seen your post MrJR  but wanted to provide some info so that local folk knew how to get involved. I think that a lot of people will be unaware of the full scope of works. I'm hoping for some strong responses from the climbing community. There was a brief thread on the other channel ( http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=628013 ) last year, which didn't appear to receive much interest. Given the strength of the campaigning from some local residents, I was really hoping we might be able to provide additional support.

Spread the word 

[cofe]

Some of those they want to pull down on Western Road (where we lived for 9 years up until a couple of years ago) are a war memorial:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/30/sheffield-council-urged-to-drop-plans-to-fell-war-memorial-trees

Alan (UKC) lives on Western Road and I think is involved in local campaigning.

[SA Chris]

we will refer the street to the independent tree panel for further investigation

Too many easy jokes up for grabs. Sad situation this.

[dave]

Forgot to say I say somewhere on social media there is a movement afoot by some parties to withhold council tax money from the council until the tree thing is resolved. No idea what level of non-payment would be required across the city to reach the point where SCC would not have the resources to process all the non-payments and pursue through the courts etc.

[danm]

I'm a little confused about what the proposed alternative might be. If a binding contract, no matter how shit it might be, has been signed, what mechanism will be used to stop the felling? Would we all be happy to accept a council tax hike to enable SCC to buy out the contract? Perhaps in leafy, well-to-do Nether Edge, but try selling it to those living in Crystal Peaks and Manor Top. There is also the fact that quite a few mature tress do need to be felled, that's a given for any proper tree management plan. Why? Well, because we haven't had a proper plan for years, many of the trees are of a similar age and size, and you ideally need a good spread of ages, sizes and species across the tree stock. There needs to be some compromise, and some trees. probably more than we'd like, may need to go.

[dave]

I don't think anyone would deny that some trees need to be managed, but it leaves (no pun intended) a nasty taste when they go about it they way they have. I.e. have a consultation, get independent expert advice, then ignore it and employ police-state tactics to enforce the decision.

[slackline]

I.e. have a consultation, get independent expert advice, then ignore it and employ police-state tactics to enforce the decision.

<cynic>Isn't that how government works though?</cynic>

[sheavi]

We are unable to see what the contract is with Amey despite numerous attempts.  It was signed about 5 years ago. Is it really binding? I don't know but if it can be shown that they are not fulfilling certain criteria... 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/street-cleaning-firm-amey-regrets-9643719
http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/amey-loses-lu-maintenance-contract-after-cost-concerns
http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2016/10/06/high-court-orders-amey-to-return-9-5m-to-council/

At least currently, because so much pressure is being brought to politicians, SCC are in discussions with Amey to look further at engineering solutions which I understand Amey are now saying is viable in some circumstances.

This issue is a hot topic on other social media channels if anyone is interested. Sheffield Tree Action Group (STAG).

https://www.facebook.com/groups/392913244219104/

[SA Chris]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/street-cleaning-firm-amey-regrets-9643719

I'm sure Homer knows how they feel

[DAVETHOMAS90]

I don't think anyone would deny that some trees need to be managed, but it leaves (no pun intended) a nasty taste when they go about it they way they have. I.e. have a consultation, get independent expert advice, then ignore it and employ police-state tactics to enforce the decision.

Quite. And working with the police to invoke dodgy legislation as an enforcement mechanism.

I'll try to get other information, but as I understand it, tree management wasn't part of the original contract.

[mrjonathanr]

Freedom Of Information request?

[sheavi]

FOI requests has been unsuccessful.   

[lagerstarfish]

I heard that the trees have all been sold to Spain to build a new armada

[DAVETHOMAS90]

For anyone interested, the following from Paul Selby:

Hi everyone
Two weeks ago I sent out my analysis of the 172 trees listed for felling in Nether Edge and Sharrow. It was suggested I send it to the media and Sheffield Live TV were the first to bite when I sent out the press release. You can see the results in the video accessed through the following weblink. It sort of brings the analysis to life.
Best wishes
Paul

http://web.sheffieldlive.org/save-nether-edge-trees-report-highlights-needless-felling/

--

[DAVETHOMAS90]

That's a great video, well presented.

..

Oops, sorry, this Paul Selby guy isn't even qualified to impose his own arbitrary assessment. I suspect he may be thinking independently! 

He's even being rational, considered and balanced in presenting his views.

Doesn't he understand, his type aren't welcome round yer  'ny more. Kick 'im out!

 

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

our road in 2014...


Our road in 2017...



Thanks to this kind young fella at 4am this morning...

[highrepute]

This happened on our old road. Apparently they have funding to replace the trees. But only once.

[slackline]

That idiot wouldn't have been able to snap one of the old trees, but its really an issue of him being a fucking idiot.  If the tree hadn't been there he'd have found his fun kicking cars or some other such mindless act of vandalism.

Trees, particularly large ones, are prone to being blown over in strong winds.  Several neighbours had +30m pines fall on their houses in the Great Storm of 1987 and I'm pretty sure it wasn't that pleasant having them crash through the house in the middle of the night.

People die when large trees, or boughs from them, fall in strong winds.  They crush cars and damage houses too.

 

[dave]

Trees can blow over? Get out of here.

[danm]

I was living in a caravan on a farm during the Great Storm in 1987. The sound of the trees coming down around me that night is something I'll never forget - a few of us took shelter in a barn that was clear of any trees and hoped for the best. Come morning, miraculously none of the buildings had been hit but it took us 2 days work to cut up and haul fallen trees out of the way to be connected to civilisation again. No shortage of firewood, mind.

[slackline]

Case against Sheffield tree protestors is dropped