Dear Supporters, The fiery colours of Autumn are out in their full glory in Nether Edge at the moment. It really is a gift and a delight. Most of the 150 condemned trees in the area are now brightly ribboned, and everyone now knows what that means. I regularly meet people in the streets who are astonished by the sheer numbers of trees we are to lose; the Council have carefully concealed the numbers from the public by only revealing the information street by street in the survey. We have now received the results for the 15 Nether Edge streets that were surveyed recently in regards to proposed tree felling. Those streets where 50%, or more, of residents did not agree with the proposed tree removals have now been referred to the Independent Tree Panel (ITP). Referral to the ITP in no way suggests that our trees are safe, it merely gives us a little bit of breathing space whilst the panel considers the evidence and makes its recommendations. The streets who have been referred to the ITP are: Agden Road 60% of residents disagree with proposals Albany Road 80% of residents disagree with proposals Crescent Road 63% of residents disagree with proposals Kenbourne Road 85% of residents disagree with proposals Kenwood Road 86% of residents disagree with proposals Kenwood Park Road 100% of residents disagree with proposals Rundle Road 89% of residents disagree with proposals Ryle Road 100% of residents disagree with proposals Steade Road 83 % of residents disagree with proposals Thornsett Road 72% of residents disagree with proposals Wath Road 88% of residents disagree with proposals Woodstock Road 50% or more disagree with proposals Only 2 streets have not been referred to the ITP: St. Ronan’s Road 23% of residents disagree with proposals Chipping house Road 17% of residents disagree with proposals Milton Road 36% of residents disagree with proposals Whilst this does seem encouraging, we must not lose sight of the fact that the ITP recommendations are not binding on SCC/Streets Ahead or Amey. Many previous ITP recommendations to retain trees have been ignored and, in Dore, trees were felled before the ITP results were even made public. With regards to the 3 streets (Chippinghouse Road, Milton Road & St. Ronan’s Road) that have not been referred to the ITP, we should expect felling crews to appear at any time. We would ask everyone who either lives on or passes through those streets to be particularly vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the emergency contact number: 07986 690499 As soon as we are in receipt of any further information we will, of course, pass this on. In addition a long-awaited draft Tree Strategy is finally available for public comment here: https://sheffield.citizenspace.com/place-planning-1/trees-and-woodlands-strategy-consultation/ Thank you to everyone who has worked so very hard over the last 19 months to get us this far! A Tree Strategy is the only real way to get Sheffield City Council to put in place adequate steps to help ensure fulfilment of policy commitments and compliance with current good practice. It should guide and inform all local authority policy and decisions that affect trees, particularly those in local authority care. Once formally adopted as policy, and as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), the strategy should be reviewed and revised at planned and appropriate intervals, in accordance with current good practice, as detailed in previous SORT letters. The problem often encountered is that most of us don't know what a Tree Strategy should include and what to ask for to ensure the safe guarding of our valuable urban forest. The previous SORT letters will give an idea of what is required of a tree strategy. In particular, see pages 7 to 9 and pages 62 and 65 of the SORT letter dated 29th January, 2016 (This was the Nether Edge petition hand-out that was distributed to every councillor in the City of Sheffield): http://bit.ly/2dGxO01 But here is a list of some of the key things to ask and if you wish to know more you can visit the FAQs or Resources section of www.savesheffieldtrees.org.uk. You could ask: - for detail of what methods and techniques will be used to ensure risk assessment is balanced. - for detail of the methods and techniques to be used for valuations, cost: benefit analyses, risk assessment, risk analyses, and various other tasks (such as hazard assessments, site preparation prior to planting, and specifications for planting, protection and aftercare). -What steps exist to ensure compliance with current good practice? -Who is responsible for undertaking, supervising, monitoring, auditing various tasks? At what stage? How? Where are they? How can they be contacted? - What steps exist to ensure a timely response to: a) Requests for information; b) Complaints of non-compliance with good practice; c) Enquiries? You have until the end of November to comment on Sheffield's Tree Strategy so please do go online and express your view. And finally we have two upcoming events: Training for and discussion of how to take direct action to stop felling: Sunday November 6th, Carrfield Primary School, (Meersbrook S8 9HJ) 10.30-12.30 and after at Cafe des Amis Social! At the Nether Edge Club, 5th December, from 7.30. Fundraising for an Exhibition of Sheffield Street Trees, Jan 7th-12th. It's going to be good!!! Thank you so much for your continued support, Save Nether Edge Trees