OPPOSITION TO DORE GROWS WITHIN LABOUR Press release from NO STUMP CITY 6 June 2018 4:00 p.m. +++++++++++++++++++++++ As Sheffield city Council Leader Julie Dore keeps ratcheting up the pressure on local tree campaigners, local Labour Party members continue to ratchet up their disagreement with her own legal offensive. In a motion that was passed unanimously last night (June 5) at its Annual General Meeting, the Crookes and Crosspool Party Labour said its “notes with dismay” that Dore personally has approved the court proceedings against four tree campaigners, that could result in their imprisonment and/or huge legal costs, and “demands that legal action is withdrawn immediately and that the Council undertakes not to pursue injunctions to prevent protest on this issue.” The motion was passed hours after testimony citing Dore’s personal endorsement came out at an injunction hearing at the Sheffield High Court. The branch said it would be taking its Labour Party branch banner to the court house on Thursday morning in support “in support of (tree protesters) being prosecuted.” Tree campaigners are holding rallies every morning this week during the three-day trial that ends tomorrow. In the 3 May local elections, Labour lost the Crookes and Crosspool ward. A key reason for the defeat, says commentators, is because of Sheffield City Council’s policy that has allowed a multinational contractor, Amey, to fell thousands of healthy street trees under a £2.2 billion PFI contract. On Western Road, located near the centre of the Crookes and Crosspool ward, SCC has approved the felling of 23 healthy trees planted in 1919 and that are a listed and living war memorial. The fact that the incumbent Labour councillor also opposed the Western Road fellings did not prevent his loss of the ward. Coverage of the hearing in the Yorkshire Post https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/…/sheffield-council-leader-… Unconfirmed reports say that SCC has already submitted legal bills of £61,000 for the current hearings.