Wharfedale Observer

Police called in over tree destruction

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Thursday 5th Dec 2002.

Outraged residents had to be restrained by police as contractors chopped down a cherished 150-year-old tree.

The apple tree was torn down from its historic place in the school yard of the former Wharfe Street School on Saturday. Contractors arrived on Wharfe Street at 6.45am and felled the Otley landmark.

On hearing the noise of the machinery angry residents gathered to try and protect it from being butchered.

They were too late and a fracas ensued leading to the police being called to settle the dispute.

The situation was controlled after the contractors produced a solicitor's letter confirming that it did not have a tree protection order.

Ian Andrew, of Ramsey Terrace, was woken by the noise of a petrol saw.

"We went out immediately and once we saw they had felled the tree scuffles broke out with the contractors and the police were called.

"The contractors would not talk to anyone, as far as we knew they could be trespassing and causing damage. We demanded to see their official order. The police calmed things down but they still would not talk to us.

"If this is going to be the developers attitude, they have immediately destroyed the support they would have got from local people."

Efforts have been made over the years by residents to put a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on the apple tree but these have failed because of the type of tree.

Bracken Developments Matthew Fuller said: "The contractor has apologised for making a noise. We did not want to upset anyone, we are willing to answer any questions.

"Our insurance company advised us to take down the tree, because we were liable if any child fell from it. I love trees and grass but at the end of the day we need to build more houses because people want more houses.

"It is a valuable piece of land and we decided not to knock down the school but to keep it and its wonderful characteristics and refurbish it for 11 houses."

The Horsforth company will be submitting a planning application for the site shortly.

Residents in the area formed the Wharfe Street Action Group in 1997 to fight plans to build on the Wharfe Street School site and the grassed area in the school yard.

It waged a two-and-a-half year campaign against developers' plans to demolish the school. Those plans were eventually refused by Leeds City Council in 1999.

Former chairman of the Wharfe Street Action Group, Bill McIlwraith said: "I think it was abominable to cut down the tree. It was planted over 100 years ago by children at the school and was the only tree in the area.

"Coming at 7am was diabolical, it is illegal to fell trees before 7.30am.

"I was surprised and shocked at the news. The residents felt so incensed it was nearly a riot.

"If they just make the building into houses we would be unopposed, but if they build on the grass area then we will fight. We have re-formed the group and we will fight if we have to."

Councillor Clive Fox (Con, Otley and Wharfedale) said: "I am dismayed that any would-be developer should act in such an apparently underhand way by felling a much loved tree in a part of town where there are so few trees.

"It strikes me as an arbitrary act designed to pre-empt any valid objections the local community have to their development plans."

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