Cornwall Council Halts Tree Removal Amid Public Outcry

Cornwall Council has suspended its plans to remove the three well-known Trelawney Trees in Falmouth, originally set for the week of November 17. This decision follows significant public protests and increased scrutiny from local campaigners, who have raised concerns about the council’s justification for the felling of the healthy lime trees.

The trees, located on Trelawney Road, became a focal point for community activism after the council announced their removal earlier this year. The authority cited legal reasons related to the trees’ roots interfering with essential utilities, including streetlight power cables and water pipes. However, these claims have been contested by Cllr Laurie Magowan, a Labour member of Cornwall Council, who stated there was no evidence to support the council’s assertions.

In the weeks leading up to this decision, it became apparent that Cornwall Council had reached an out-of-court settlement with an unnamed third party, reportedly linked to a local homeowner. Campaigners from the Stop the Chop! group suggest this settlement could amount to as much as £100,000, a figure that has not been officially denied by council leaders. Details of the agreement remain confidential, leaving the public without insight into the rationale behind the council’s actions.

Community Engagement and Continued Opposition

A communication from a senior officer at Cornwall Council confirmed that the felling of the trees has been postponed, with plans for further discussions with community members. A spokesperson for Stop the Chop! expressed relief at the temporary halt but underscored the ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability from the council.

“This is great news, at least in the short term,” the spokesperson stated. “We have been seeking clarity on why the trees need to be removed for over nine months. Our concerns about due process led to three public protests, some of which involved police intervention, but the council continued with its original plans. Finally, we have seen some engagement.”

The campaigners have repeatedly requested that Cornwall Council provide credible evidence justifying the removal of the trees, which are protected under environmental regulations. They claim that the council’s foundation for the proposed felling rests not on any documented damage to utilities or infrastructure but rather on the confidential settlement.

According to Stop the Chop!, this lack of independent evidence raises significant questions about the council’s decision-making process. “It appears that Cornwall Council does not have any verifiable evidence to justify the felling and is relying on information from the private agreement,” they stated. “This situation creates a dangerous precedent.”

Calls for Transparency and Accountability

In light of these developments, there are growing calls for Cornwall Council to disclose more information regarding the settlement and its implications for local environmental policies. The spokesperson for Stop the Chop! emphasized that Falmouth Town Council may have been misled concerning the safety of the trees, stating that the public was wrongly informed about the roots damaging utilities.

The ongoing situation raises broader concerns about the potential impact of confidential settlements on public trust in local governance. As the community continues to advocate for the preservation of the Trelawney Trees, questions linger about how many other trees may have faced similar felling due to undisclosed agreements.

Inquiries directed at Cornwall Council regarding the postponement of the tree removal and the circumstances surrounding the settlement are ongoing. As the local community remains engaged in this issue, the future of the Trelawney Trees hangs in the balance, reflecting a broader tension between urban development and environmental preservation.