Trees will be axed as part of Shrewsbury gyratory scheme despite huge opposition - here's why

A consultation exercise found huge opposition to the proposed removal of trees at the Chester Street/Smithfield Road junction.

But Shropshire Council says the two trees on either side of Chester Street must go because of 'critical health and safety factors'.

The original plan was to chop down all five trees, but that has been scaled back.

The council says that the trees, named T3 and T4, “cannot be retained without undermining key objectives of the scheme and the outcomes of the original funding allocation".

The consultation ended on December 18 and the council announced its decision on Monday in a short statement.

A council spokesperson said: “A consultation on the proposed removal of two trees at the Chester Street/Smithfield Road junction in Shrewsbury closed on December 18.

“The removal was proposed as part of work to enhance and improve the Shrewsbury railway station gyratory area.

“The summary report and decision letter for the consultation can now be found on the Shropshire Council website.

“A hard copy of both the report and the letter have also been placed at the reception in The Gateway Centre on Chester Street, and copies of the decision letter are also fixed to the trees concerned.”

The decision letter, placed via a link on the council's website, said: “In order to meet the project requirements, the trees need to be removed so that Chester Street can become two-way, thereby removing the need for traffic having to travel past the railway station to access Smithfield Road and Castle Gates.

“The original intention was to remove all five trees but design modifications retains three.”

They add: “It is not possible to relocate the trees even slightly.

“The trees were planted within concrete rings which has directed the roots deeper underground and any operation to remove them will cause damage to the root structures and the overall health of the trees themselves.”

The decision note says that discussions are underway with the town council to identify suitable locations for four new trees and above ground planting will be introduced as part of the project to improve the streetscape and "greening" of the area.”

Of 22 surveys completed as part of the consultation, 68 per cent of the respondents (15) strongly opposed the proposals set out in the consultation.

More than one of the respondents was against the project as a whole.

They said: “This will be looked at by future generations living in the town in the same way we look at the damage that was done in the 1960s.”

The Chester Street/Smithfield Road tree removals are part of Shropshire Council’s Transforming Movement and Public Spaces – Station Gyratory Improvements in Shrewsbury.

In early 2023 Shropshire Council secured funding from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF), to improve public space and provide walking and cycling improvements in Shrewsbury town centre.

Work to enhance and improve the Shrewsbury railway station gyratory area will begin againon January 6, 2025 following a pause for Christmas.

The ‘station quarter’ work – being carried out by local company McPhillips Ltd on behalf of Shropshire Council – is government funded and is set to be completed by next summer.