Save Leigh's Trees

Sign This Petition

- If you are not already subscribed, would you like to receive email updates from South East Essex Green Party, Eastern Green Party, and Green Party of England & Wales? * Yes, opt in to email updates No, do not opt in

We’ll email you about campaigns, events, and opportunities to get involved. Find out more about how we use your information.

Flag As Spam

Save Leigh's Trees

Southend-on-Sea City Council

Leigh resident, Simon Gittus writes;

Once again Leigh's Street Trees are under threat from the Labour/Lib Dem coalition.

Without consultation, residents in Vernon Road, Leigh-on-Sea recently found out that their perfectly healthy roadside trees are destined for the axe because of planned pavement works.

My grandparents lived in a bungalow on Vernon Road, so I have a special connection to this street. As a child, I appreciated the trees and wildlife in Leigh so much that, in 2010 my partner and I decided to move back to the area ourselves.

Mature trees provide a wide range of benefits to our city, from combating pollution, providing habitats for wildlife, and even improving human mental well-being. With our tree canopy coverage already one of the lowest in the UK, we need to be increasing our canopy cover, not axing entire streets.

The justification for these planned removals is insufficient and does not even conform to the Council's own policy. These particular trees are not even listed on the Council's tree removal website. I dread to think how many trees are being cut down without the public being aware of this failure of publication.

Please sign my petition today to ask the portfolio holder for the Environment, Cllr Lydia Hyde, to reconsider this decision.

Sponsored by

South East Essex Green Party

To: Southend-on-Sea City Council
From: [Your Name]

Dear Cllr Hyde,

We are writing to you regarding the planned removal of 7 trees on Vernon Road.

As you well know mature trees provide a wide range of benefits to our city, from pollution filtration to habitats for wildlife to improved human mental wellbeing, and with our tree canopy coverage as one of the lowest in the country, you can understand our concerns.

We really do not believe the justification for these trees to be removed is sufficient, and does not even conform to the principles of removal set out by the council. We're also incredibly concerned to point out that these trees are not even listed on your tree removal website. We dread to think how many trees are being cut down without the public being aware due to this failure of publication.

We really urge you to ask officers to reconsider this decision to remove, and instead work with our valuable natural resources.