Dear concerned residents, friends of Blakes Walk, tree lovers!

Many, many thanks to all who have signed the petition and left heartfelt and well-informed comments. More than 700 signatures after less than two days just goes to show the strength of feeling on this issue.

And it seems the petition and campaign – as well as efforts by members of our Town Council and the Friends Of Lewes (FoL)  – are already having an effect.

East Sussex County Council Highways department is now saying it WILL consult with the Town Council, the District Council and the Friends of Lewes (although still no mention of consulting with the public). 

And in something of a revisionist move, it implies that it intended to do this all along (!) and that no final decision as to the fate of the trees has yet been made (!) – with talk of some sort of "compromise".

This comes despite the fact that in a letter to the FoL, received on Nov 9th, the Highways department stated: "... rather than waiting till 2035 it is our intention to remove these trees [poplars] now."

The reasons given being that "the footway is becoming hazardous due to the poplar roots growing underneath it" and that the trees are "now posing a hazard to the property nearby" (!).

The tone of the letter is that the matter is not open for discussion and that it is is a "done deal". This chimes with what myself and a neighbour were separately told verbally by staff from ESCC on site that "the decision has been made".

The apparent about-turn on consultation also comes despite the fact that ESCC Highways has scheduled the complete closure of Blakes Walk for three weeks from January 8th to 29th for "maintenance tree works". 

This remains in place. 

Friends Of Lewes has written to ESCC and is now in discussion with them.

Within that letter, FoL states that, despite ESCC saying the poplars were only ever supposed to be 'nurse trees' to the limes, "both species seem to be happily growing side by side" and that they are all "in good health" (apart from one identified dead lime).

They say there is "no silvicultural, arboricultural or landscape reason for any trees to be removed".

And they also point out that in 2016 after expressing concern about the closeness of the new development to the trees, FoL were assured by ESCC that it would be made clear to new residents that "removal of any of these trees would not be negotiable".

 

Apologies if this a bit long-winded, but I wanted to let you all know what has been happening and where we are at.

You should all be proud of yourselves for making your feelings known and for causing ESCC to have something of a reassessment and a realisation that they do need to consult with the various bodies.

However, my view and that of others I have spoken to, is that we need to keep the pressure up. The word "compromise" I do not find particularly encouraging. The removal of all or some of the poplars still remains very much on the table as far as ESCC is concerned.

And the fact that work is still scheduled to go ahead on January 8th also makes many of us uneasy.

My feeling is to keep on gathering signatures, keep on spreading the link to this site. Speak to your Town, District and County councillors – your MP. And stay vigilant.

All comments, ideas and suggestions welcome.

Thanks