Campaigners in West Yorkshire are fighting to save a mature English oak tree and a tulip tree from being felled to make way for a temporary bridge.
It comes as Leeds City Council plan to rebuild a walkway attached to the medieval stone bridge over the River Wharfe in Otley as it has “come to the end of its life span”.
The authority says a number of trees need to be removed during the process, including a 180-year-old oak tree, known as the Otley Tittybottle oak tree, at Tittybottle Park, along the banks of the river.
This has been condemned by residents, an Otley councillor and members of the campaign group Otley Tree Protectors, who have set up a petition to save the trees. They are also crowdfunding to raise money for legal costs involved in challenging the council.
This has been condemned by residents, an Otley councillor and members of the campaign group Otley Tree Protectors, who have set up a petition to save the trees
Crowdfunder
The Otley Tree Protectors have been guarding the Tittybottle Oak tree since December 2, when the council first tried to fell it, which acted as a deterrent.
The petition reads: “The residents of Otley are trying to halt the unnecessary felling of trees in Tittybottle park in Otley. One of the trees at risk is a 180 year old Oak tree, another is a large Tulip tree.
“The trees are due to be felled in order for a large crane to access the site to erect a temporary footbridge over the River Wharfe, during repair work on the old medieval bridge. This temporary bridge is due to cost in the region of £2m and repair work is due to cost £1m.
“Due consideration has not been given to these trees during the design process of this temporary bridge.”
The campaigners also say that with careful design these trees could be saved, for example if the bridge was constructed in sections and fed out over the river, meaning crane access would not be required.
They say this also presents an opportunity to design a footbridge that remains accessible even in the event of a flood.
The petition adds that the environmental impact of losing these trees, that sit on a flood plain beside the River Wharfe, would be “devastating”.
It reads: “The river bank would become less stable, the thousands of species of insects and animals living within these trees and their roots would lose their habitat, and we would lose the most effective carbon capture factories on earth.
“We cannot casually accept the loss of oaks without also accepting the loss of thousands of other plants and animals that depend on them, oak declines in the UK threaten the survival of 2,300 other species of plants and animals.
“We must stop thinking ‘it’s just one tree’ this situation is being repeated too often around the world, we are in the middle of an environmental collapse. Please sign this petition to help stop the felling of these beautiful trees.”
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The campaigners also say that with careful design these trees could be saved
Crowdfunder
The ‘Help us to save the Tittybottle Oak Tree in Otley’ crowdfunding page also states that the mature oak tree has seen nine generations come and go, with ashes of Otley residents’ relatives placed beneath it and many memories for those who have enjoyed time under the tree in times gone by.
Commenting on the Crowfunding page, Miranda Brunskill said: “Save this sacred tree. It is part of our heritage.
Kirsty Hawksworth said: “It’s outrageous that a tree so old could be carelessly chopped down to build a temporary bridge. There is definitely a way of repairing the original without this destruction.
“It’s time authorities started prioritising biodiversity when making construction plans, and considered the environmental impact of their actions on future generations.
Rosie Belladonna added: “Tolkien’s vision of Orcs and Elves is becoming a reality. I’m definitely on the side of the Elves! Save the Shire.”
Councillor Mick Bradley, of Otley Town Council, is also opposed to the felling of the tree, and has been critical of the city council’s approach.
He told Yorkshire Live: “The big issue here is local democracy. We had a feasibility study which was carried out a year ago, but local representatives only found out about this in the Autumn.
“The feasibility study was limited in that it only looked at what to do with the footway – it didn’t consider the possibility of a second, alternative bridge. There has been a lack of transparency all the way through.
“Information from Leeds has been drip-drip and only when there’s been pressure from local people.”
The council said it regretted having to clear the trees, and would plant semi-mature specimens in their place once the work was completed.
The walkway was built in the 1950s as an add-on to the bridge, which dates back to the 13th Century.
The council said it regretted having to clear the trees, and would plant semi-mature specimens in their place once the work was completed
Crowdfunder
Otley Bridge carries the B6451 and is a scheduled monument with legal protection. It was built in 1228 as part of a direct route to York, but rebuilt in the 18th Century.
According to the council, the pedestrian walkway needed to be demolished and replaced for public safety.
It said it had “hidden” defects and holes which were currently covered by boards.
The council said building a temporary footbridge from Wharfemeadows Park to Tittybottle Park was an alternative to putting one-way traffic lights on the current bridge while repairs are carried out.
This would cause delays to traffic, increase air pollution and could lead to people avoiding the town, a spokesman added.
In a statement, Leeds City Council said: “Safety for all users of Otley Bridge remains our paramount concern. The inspection work carried out last week confirms the footbridge has come to the end of its serviceable life and will need to be replaced before next winter.
“At this time our position remains that the preferred approach is to provide a temporary footbridge, necessitating the removal of the trees.
“This is because of the significant impact that installing of three-way temporary traffic lights on the bridge over such an extended period of time will have in the town.
“We will aim to update the community and stakeholders in due course.”
The Save the Otley Tittybottle Oak Tree petition can be found here and the Crowdfunder can be found here.