Thank you everyone who has signed and shared the petition to Protect the Vauxhall Way trees. To get to 1000 signatures so quickly is amazing.

Reaching out to our local councillors we have had a response from the Liberal Democrats who are united in support, saying this:

"At the last local elections, the Luton Liberal Democrats campaigned on a manifesto of making Luton Cleaner, Greener and Safer.  We are against the unnecessary felling of trees and have often been the lone voice of opposition to the Labour Council’s penchant for cutting down trees and building over our open green spaces."  

Many thanks to them for their support. Mark Rivers, Labour councillor for Round Green, had the following response: 

"Do I think that widening Vauxhall Way for the sake of motor traffic to the airport warrants the loss of trees? No. Do I think that improved cycling infrastructure and pedestrian safety are worth the loss of existing trees as long it’s coupled with suitable replanting? Yes, I do." 

This is a disappointing attitude from the Labour camp, as it ignores the possibility to improve pedestrian and cycle access without building dual carriageways and destroying established green space. Compensatory planting elsewhere is no match for preserving established habitats. It is however good to know that he thinks a dual carriageway for improved airport access isn't a justification, so surely somewhere in the middle there is a compromise that allows for improved pedestrian and cycle infrastructure that preserves the green space as much as possible.

Keep sharing and we'll update again when we get some further progress!