Forum Topic

Clashes in York Gardens tree protest

Skirmishes have broken between protestors and security guards over the felling of a mature tree in Battersea. https://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/news/19161296.video-clashes-york-gardens-tree-protest/So much anger everywhere!Also, police kneeling on people's necks and chest, is that new tactics?  Is the UK following the example of the USA?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1844d21 Comments

Possibly the whole redevelopment will finish about the time the newly planted replacement trees are mature?

David Ainsworth ● 1844d

Ueh the pandemic has delayed lots of parts of the works and the initial decant programme was clearly too ambitious. It always takes longer to rehouse as some folks expectations are simply not deliverable.Quite honestly Pennethorne and the other blocks were overdue works some years back but the plan is so ambitious it tends to lumber along. A pal of mine was due to move into one of the new blocks 8 months ago but up until the last time i saw him moves were on hold due to covid.

Andy Pike ● 1844d

LOL true that, I've spoken to some of the residents of that building and it sounds dreadful :( They said they were initially told that they would be moved out in March 2019!

Matt Palmer ● 1844d

If I'd spent a year locked down in Pennethorne House I'd have chanted save the tree too 😁😁

Andy Pike ● 1844d

What a lot of posts to answer, apologies but i've been out so would have replied earlier.About 140 of the 170 trees in YG are due to be removed. Although a minority want to fight to save every tree I think most people are realistic that the development needs to go ahead, Andy is right that the housing there desperately needed replacing (we can skip over the finer points of how much private vs social housing is going to be there i guess)The vast majority of the trees to be removed are relatively young but this one particular tree (which seems to have been planted around the time the estate was laid out in the late 60's) is physically located in an area that will still be a green space at the end of the development work. The reason the developers have given for its removal is that they need to run a bunch of electrical cables (big thick things rather than little ones) across the site and that tree is in the way. They say they cannot divert the cables because there's a Thames Water pipe nearby and TW won't grant an easement to allow the cables to run nearer their pipes.BUT Thames Water have said (in writing) they have no issue with granting the easement and that the developer hasnt contacted them about doing it.So WBC say 'everything has been done to save that tree' and it's simply not the case.I was there this morning when the tree was (mostly) cut down, there were children crying everywhere and a lot (i mean a lot) of people shouting 'save the tree' from the block nearest the tree. In the three weeks that this has been going on we have had resident after resident stop by and say they support the tree protectors. Hopefully that addresses most points.

Matt Palmer ● 1844d

I agree. Its one of the few things I use to keep reasonably up to date on things going on at WBC. He is an excellent Councillor and always very forthright and most importantly honest.

Andy Pike ● 1844d

Tony Beltons blog is really interesting. It would perhaps be a good thing if more of our Councillors told us what they have been doing as they do on the Chiswick Forum.

Caroline Whitehead ● 1844d

Andy, thanks for posting that.  It's helpful.https://tonybelton.wordpress.com/

Jonathan Callaway ● 1844d

An aerial photo of the area from 1928. Price's all along the lower section, fronting onto York Road. Mantua Street School to the left, and St Peter's Church to the right. Any tree that survived there gets my vote. This poplar (?) has to surely be a back garden tree, as there don't seem to be street trees.https://i1.wp.com/heritagecalling.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/3-price_s-factory-and-surroundings-from-the-air.jpgReally good photo, and fun to combine with historical maps, and imagination.

David Ainsworth ● 1844d

Can I suggest that folk on here have a look at Councilor Tony Beltons (lab) March on line newsletter. He is one of the Latchmere Councillors and has put his views very succinctly on this point. My experience of Cllr Belton is that he is an excellent Councillor who would have asked the most searching of questions before accepting that there really is no alternative. Also a key line in his blog is 'would those demonstrating like to live in the brutalist blocks due for demolition? I think not? This project has cross party support on the council and is really very much needed.Please read his newsletter it may give you a view from someone who knows the estate and its problems.

Andy Pike ● 1844d

"Hidden talents David"Deeply, deeply.

David Ainsworth ● 1844d

Jonathan I would like to think that a diversion has been considered, indeed my experience is that it would have been demanded if possible by Councillors. Not sure of the current plans but I can only think it would be extremely expensive and/or be limited by the actual or proposed site lay out.ie they would be looking to avoid a re route under any proposed buildings . Which may limit the options. I know if it had been during my time ( had a similar problem some years ago on Parkside) we would have made every effort to avoid this type of publicity.But sometimes you simply cant avoid problems

Andy Pike ● 1844d

I would like to think they try very hard every time to avoid the unnecessary removal of mature trees.  It shouldn't be new homes or old trees it should be, or could be, both.  I don't know the site very well but the council's track record on working to preserve mature trees is not exactly exemplary.  During a declared climate emergency maybe re-routing the underground cables could have been done at a little extra cost?  Andy?

Jonathan Callaway ● 1844d

Hidden talents David

Andy Pike ● 1844d

"You've clearly never been to York road estate David"I've lived, loved, got drunk, and worked in Battersea. I even had a fight in the street in Battersea. (Really not my sort of thing).

David Ainsworth ● 1844d

I agree Andy, but perhaps the tree lover's have something else in mind like a tree house.

Barbara Stevens ● 1844d

You've clearly never been to York road estate David

Andy Pike ● 1844d

"Has anyone polled the people living on the estate who have been patiently waiting years for the improvements if they want new homes or old tree?"I imagine that they would answer "Both" and "What took you so long?".

David Ainsworth ● 1844d

Out of the loop on York Gardens since retirement but I thought it was about providing much needed new homes and dramatically upgrading those that remain. Has anyone polled the people living on the estate who have been patiently waiting years for the improvements if they want new homes or old tree? From what I've read many more trees will be planted afterwards and it really is necessary to fell this tree. I know for a fact when I was there the first question from Ciuncillors wiukd gave been ' can we save this tree and move on? Please ' the fact it's still earmarked to be felled would suggest to me the answer was no.Once again it seems that those from outside the area are blocking much needed works for those that live there without a mandate from the estate residents to do so.But Matt will probably tell me he lives there

Andy Pike ● 1844d

I agree Ivonne, why is it even necessary to lay a lady down on to her front. Maybe with a man if he becomes violent. But no need to stand on their neck.

Barbara Stevens ● 1844d

i've been there at some point nearly every day over the last three weeks and the security guards are completely over the top. await's being called a 'mob' by Sue and Barbara.

Matt Palmer ● 1844d