Oak tree felled after weeks of stand-offs

A large oak tree in a West Yorkshire market town has been felled after weeks of public debate about its future.

The tree, in Otley, was cut down as Leeds City Council said it needed to make way for vital repairs on the footway of the main bridge over the River Wharfe.

The move, which was first planned before Christmas, divided opinion among residents.

There were scuffles on Friday morning as protesters tried to stop the tree being removed.

The council had warned residents that if the tree remained, it would have to reduce traffic on Otley Bridge to one-way and install temporary lights, causing delays and tailbacks, to allow the repair work to go ahead.

While some in Otley have backed the felling as a necessary measure, others claimed the council's decision was at odds with its biodiversity commitments.

Contractors arrived on the site on Friday morning to begin the work, exactly a week after the felling had to be abandoned on safety grounds when some protesters climbed the tree and camped on the site.

In recent weeks, some of those against the felling have tied yellow ribbons around the tree.

Speaking from the site as the felling progressed, Kevin Morris told the BBC he was upset the tree was being cut down, citing concerns over bats living within it.

"I think it's absolutely outrageous," he said.

"They could have paused the work for further surveys to take place but they've chosen not to do that and take the tree down. I think it's disgusting to be honest."

However, David Shaw, who was visiting from Harrogate, said he was in favour of the tree's removal.

"It's one tree," he said. "If they want to repair the bridge...there's millions of trees round here."

The work also had to be completed before bird nesting season began in the spring.

In a statement, Leeds City Council said the felling was "not a decision we have taken lightly".

The authority added: "However, the only viable alternative would have been to reduce Otley Bridge to a single lane of traffic for at least six months, and as we have seen in recent weeks this would have had a detrimental impact on the local area.

"The very clear and strong feedback we received from the local community when temporary signals were on the bridge has reinforced our position that the felling of the trees was the most appropriate solution, although we fully recognise the strength of feeling against doing so."

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