Shrewsbury oak tree row sparks calls for end to unnecessary felling

Shrewsbury town councillors said they would not support planning applications for the removal of trees anywhere in the town unless Shropshire Council’s tree officer deemed it absolutely necessary.

It comes after a 150-year-old oak tree was spared when it was scaled by an Extinction Rebellion protester, forcing Shropshire Council to back down on plans to fell it to make way for a new entrance to Harlescott Junior School.

At a town council planning meeting on Tuesday, members unanimously voted to oppose three tree felling applications and requested the tree officer visit the site of another two.

Speaking against the first application, for the removal of two ash trees, Councillor Kevin Pardy said: “As some people may know, we had a bit of a problem with a tree in Featherbed Lane in Sundorne, to fell an oak that was 150 years old.

“I have had the pleasure of talking to some people who are far more knowledgeable about trees than I am, and the fact is that we are losing a lot of trees – a lot of older trees – and replacing them with young trees which will take years and years for us to benefit from in an equal way.

“This applicant doesn’t even want to replace them.

“These are protected by TPOs so I don’t think any of these trees should be removed without being inspected and, if we do lose them, they should be replaced.

“We talk about amenity value. Trees have infinite amenity value to everybody.

“So I am going to speak strongly from now on about the loss of trees.”

Other members supported his stance, and said all five applications failed to explain why the trees needed to be removed.

Reasons such as the trees being of “no amenity value”, potential danger to people and nearby buildings, and “excessive shade” were not justified or based on professional opinion, councillors said.

The applications will be decided by Shropshire Council.