No comment from Sheffield City Council. "Enabling Amey to potentially fell up to 17,500 trees, as revealed through FOI releases relating to the PFI contract, is not at all appropriate and leaves Sheffield at the whim of a private provider. "I have always believed that PFI contracts in public services put the interests of shareholders not local residents first and that is why I have consistently opposed their use. They are inflexible, anti-democratic & opaque and this contract is no different. The rigid confines of this private contract cannot be allowed to get in the way of a halt in the fellings, meaningful mediation and a negotiated resolution which is now urgent. The needs of the city and local residents must come first."