BEARWOOD residents are protesting to prevent the felling of trees to make way for a new cycle route, while BCP Council says nothing is final.

Campaigner and resident Robert Brown has told the Daily Echo that BCP Council “don’t care” in regard to several trees aged between 100 and 300 years old that could be felled ahead of road works on Magna Road.

The work is part of BCP Council’s Transforming Cities Fund grant which will see the implementation of major bus, cycling and walking improvements, aimed at enabling people to make healthier journeys where possible.

Mr Brown said: “There are at dozens of trees on my side of Magna Road that could make way for a double protected cycle lane, that to me is over the top.

“It wasn’t until one day about three or four weeks ago that they began cutting verges down on Wood Lane. As soon as I found out that something similar would happen on Magna Road, I had to do something because they don’t care.

He added: “A lot of people are upset about this, some of these trees have TPO’s on them and if they’re allowed to mow them all down, that would be outrageous.”

A TPO is a Tree Preservation Order, made by a local planning authority to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity. This prevents the trees from being cut down. Nearby TPO’s include one on Magna Road and two on Bear Cross Avenue.

There are some 25 trees either side between Wood Lane and Bear Cross roundabout.

Fellow resident Meryl Landes told the Daily Echo: “The fact that they’re planning to cut down trees is shocking and ironic. They’re encouraging people to cycle to save the environment – yet they’re cutting down trees.”

However, a BCP Council spokesperson said: “The sustainable travel route along Magna Road to Bear Cross Road are still subject to final design following consultation and is not set for construction – subject to final plan approval – until an estimated date of September 2022.”

"The design team are currently working to minimise any tree removal along this section.

"There may be the requirement for the removal of up to two trees along this section, but this is still subject to final design plans and not confirmed."

"There are no plans at present to alter or remove any trees on Magna Road that are protected by preservation orders. If further analysis indicates otherwise then a tree preservation order application to carry out works on protected trees would need to be submitted.

They added: "The delivery team has, and will continue to work closely with tree officers as the scheme progresses."

The spokesperson also stressed that any tree removed is replaced with two new trees as close to the site of removal as possible.

Mr Brown, who has lived in Bearwood for 51 years, added: “Plans for the area leaves me incredulous at to what this Authority is doing.

“Spoiling the ecology of the environment and look of the area all to gain a few pennies from central government. We don’t want the whole area metalled like a city concrete monstrosity.

“We need to preserve some of the character of this suburb and of this conurbation to maintain the quality of life for the people who live here.”

Mr Brown is actively looking for more volunteers to help produce leaflets and lodge official complaints.