Sheffield secures renewal of injunctions over tree felling programme

The High Court has renewed injunctions granted to Sheffield City Council against protesters who have taken direct action to try to halt a tree felling programme.

HHJ Robinson made the order for nine named people and ‘persons unknown’ for a further 18 months.

It prevents them from entering any safety zone erected around a tree, deliberately seeking to prevent the erection of such a safety zone and knowingly using any vehicle to prevent the zone’s erection.

The injunction also prevents those covered from delaying contractors’ work for more than 20 minutes in any 24 hours and from “encouraging, aiding, counselling, directing or facilitating anybody else” to do any of these acts, including by posting social media messages.

Tree felling had been the subject of a long and bitter dispute between the council and protesters, who argue that healthy trees are being needlessly cut down.

A compromise plan is being prepared by the council to try to end the row.

The injunction was originally granted in August 2017 by Males J.

HHJ Robinson said when agreeing to extend the injunction: “I also wish to associate myself with the observations of Males J concerning the neutrality of the Judiciary in matters such as these.

“I also express no view, one way or the other, as to the merits of the claimant's tree felling programme or the objectors' campaign.”

The injunction was due to expire on 25 July.

Four defendants reached agreement with Sheffield on the terms of an order and the others remain covered by the injunction.

Lewis Dagnall, Sheffield’s cabinet member for environment and streetscene, said: “The council is currently preparing a compromise proposal for tree replacement work as part of the Streets Ahead programme. Our contractor's pause on tree replacement will remain in place until these discussions have concluded.

“The council must, however, act to both guarantee its ability to act upon its duty to maintain the highway, and to ensure the safety of workers and members of the public as work takes place. Therefore we welcome the High Court's extension of the injunction by a further 18 months, but also that the council was able to reach a consensual agreement with a number of defendants.

“The modifications agreed by the court and defendants will ensure the smooth operation of the injunction, whilst protecting campaigners’ right to peaceful protest.”

Mark Smulian