Big meeting at the cemetery today with many airport bosses, council members, contractors, and a scattering of concerned locals.
Despite being outnumbered, together we managed to convey our disgust amicably and challenge them on a number of their decisions.

From the outset they stated that the tree works would be necessary regardless of the extension, clearly contradicting statements made in SIAL's proposal to SCC. We then asked: if that was the case, why hadn’t any work been carried out previously? If it had been routine over the past 25+ years, as they asserted, then the trees would not now need 70% coppicing—rendering them essentially dead! Previous management was blamed (of course).

When asked why there was practically no time between the works being proposed and the decision being made by the council, SIAL stated that it was SCC’s request that they kept quiet, citing data laws. SCC then stated that notice of the meeting was on their website (essentially in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying “Beware of the Leopard”). You couldn’t make it up! Apparently, this meeting is the public consultation—after the ink has already dried on the contracts.

Another quite astonishing quote from them came after being pressed: “If for whatever reason SCC withdraw permission or fail to issue the permit, we will go to the Home Sec who will rubber-stamp it.” That was the bit we knew. However, they continued: “We would then not be putting any of the mitigation measures in, as there would be no need to.”
This came across to me as a direct threat: Take the offer, or get nothing.

They have offered to:

Replant trees on a 4-to-1 ratio: 50% inside the cemetery (smaller, manageable varieties) and 50% elsewhere nearby, all with full aftercare.

Plant holly bushes to shore up gaps in the hedge.

Give the chapel and other facilities a much-needed facelift.

Provide bat boxes.

Promises of a wildflower meadow were played down, as the land will be required for future graves.

It was slightly reassuring to learn that the main avenue of trees will be largely unaffected, apart from one large tree near the southern entrance. But it does make you wonder: if they can get away with this level of secrecy and coercion, what’s next?

The tree surgeon is ready to roll. He even showed a video of the “sympathetic” machine they’d be using. It was like watching a scene from an abattoir—it just kept going. I had to look away.

Work could begin as early as November.

I was then interviewed by ITV Meridian. Although exceptionally nervous, I thought I brought up many useful points. But almost inevitably, sentences were cut and pasted, turning a five-minute chat into fifteen seconds.

Although far from a win against government and big business’s incessant lust for growth, I don’t think we could have done any better. All who attended today contributed to a very worthy defence. I just hope SIAL follows up on their promises. I won’t forget that during a private chat with one of the managers, he gave me his personal assurance that they will follow through—and we know where to find them if they don’t (words to that effect).

This isn’t quite over yet. We will be pushing SIAL and SCC to do more to offset the environmental damage their greed has created.

Thank you all for your continued support, it really means a lot to me personally!! 

Next step is to get this petition presented to the airport managers!