Former Peterborough Mayor questions Station Quarter plans to axe 35 trees
Plans to remove 35 trees around the new pedestrian City Link route between Peterborough railway station and Cowgate have been rebuffed by a former Peterborough Mayor.
Nick Sandford, who describes himself as “fully in support of the Station Quarter scheme,” said he has significant reservations about the proposed removal of so much greenery.
“The trees proposed for removal are not of a great age but still provide significant benefits… in terms of sequestration of carbon, wildlife habitat, air purification, water management and generally improve the feel and appearance of an inner city area like this,” he said.
As well as serving as Mayor of Peterborough from 2023 to 2024, Mr Sandford also spent 30 years working for the Woodland Trust.
Drawing on his experience, Mr Sandford quoted from the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Plan, published in 2020, which states:
“If a tree must be removed, local authorities should implement minimum replacement planting ratios, which stipulate that for every non-woodland tree removed at least three new trees should be planted.”
“Applying this principle of three-for-one replacement planting shows that [the] proposal to replace 35 mature trees with only 49 new ones is clearly inadequate,” He said.
“The replanting ratio needs to be increased significantly.”
In addition to a net gain of 14 trees, the plans for the new pedestrian City Link route are also expected to include seven additional small trees and shrubs, as well as a rain garden and Gabion walls.
Construction work on City Link is due to start in the first few months of 2026.
Now a communications officer for the Liberal Democrat council group and Lib Dem local party, Mr Sandford acknowledged how difficult it will be to maximise every single inch of space across the £65 million Station Quarter development:
“I appreciate that there may be space constraints on the site,” he said, “but opportunities could be taken to plant new trees nearby on council land in the city centre – or perhaps on the Embankment – to ensure adequate compensatory planting, which on a three-for-one basis should total 105 trees.
Mr Sandford was voicing his concerns following Peterborough City Council’s recent announcement to encourage residents to take part in a public consultation on the proposed plans to fell the 35 aforementioned trees on the eastern side of the railway.
Anyone wishing to have their say on the plans has until February 11 to make representation to Peterborough City Council.