Agenda item

(A period not exceeding 20 minutes for statements from up to 5 members of the public on matters within the Panel’s remit, proposing action(s) which may be considered or contribute towards the future development of the Panel’s work programme).

Public Statement 1 - Richard Needham, Doncaster Resident and Member of the Green Party speaking for the Middlefield Road Tree Protesters:

We are pleased that DMBC are undertaking a much-needed review of the Tree Policy following the Middlefield Road issue where 64 healthy mature trees were removed on mass.  Decimating an important wildlife corridor depriving bees of a rich source of pollen and causing division and upset amongst residents.  This should never be allowed to happen again.  It is simply not acceptable or sustainable.  Middlefield Road illustrates everything that is wrong with the loopholes in the current Policy. 

We know that alternative engineering solutions are available and should be used.  In the past trees have been felled because they have been seen as a danger or as a nuisance when in most cases a clever solution is available, making felling unnecessary.  For example, flexi pave can be used allowing water to drain through helping to water the tree and prevent flooding. 

We need to remember the real danger that threatens everyone is the Climate and Biodiversity emergency.  Unless this is tackled head on, it will cost us dearly.  There is no room for complacency and thinking, “it is just a tree”, each and every tree needs to be valued. 

The spirit of the updated policy is good.  It aspires to increase the value of trees in their role in tackling climate and biodiversity emergency, help prevent flooding, improve local air quality and make Doncaster a healthier and more attractive place to live, work and visit. 

DMBC has stepped up to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency and if the spirit of the tree policy is acted upon, DMBC will succeed and will lead the way tree by tree, ensuring minimal tree removal is adhered to.  If the spirit of the policy is not adhered to then rest assured we are here and will challenge poor decisions and raise public awareness.  DMBC do not be another Sheffield. 

Thank you.

Public Statement 2 - Kate Needham, Doncaster Resident, Member of the Green Party and a Middlefield Road Tree Protestor:

On the 12^th February 2021, I wrote to Tim Newton following the previous meeting about the draft policy.  I raised the issue that although the spirit of the policy is good some things were not explicit enough to ensure that the spirit is acted upon.  I also congratulated him on the progress and work that had been done so far. 

For example in page 16 of the planting trees section, there is no mention of location which should be as close to the removed trees as possible, otherwise urban areas where trees are removed will be left bare. 

A public record should be kept of the location, numbers and survival rate of replacement trees. 

Page 17 Bio-security section, there is no mention of planting a variety of species rather than identical trees in order to prevent disease spreading.

In Middlefield Road all the replacement saplings were identical which is not good for disease prevention and not best practice. 

Page 30 decision pathway, it is good in terms of better notification and investigation but the process does not allow for the decision to fell a tree to be scrutinised or disputed.  Surely, there should be some mechanism by which decisions are made in house can be scrutinised, for example, joint inspections or independent experts.  There should be an opportunity to object.  Trees in avenues should be assessed individually and decisions to fell them not based merely on aesthetics and the way it looks.

Tim Newton has written to me to say that the short answer is yes and that these issues are all intended to be covered as you suggest and questioned whether the wording was explicit enough in the policy and something he is checking.  So, clearly Tim still has to check and add whatever wording is needed to make these things explicit enough and the Scrutiny Committee needs to be told this.  It’s all about closing loopholes.

Thank you very much.