Protesters at the ‘little forest’protest against cutting down the trees

• ISLINGTON Council is to be commended for sticking to its commitment to consult on the worldwide climate and ecological emergencies during the coronavirus stay-at-home by launching its four-month online “Vision 2030: building a net zero carbon Islington consultation”.

It seems appropriate, therefore, to shout out once again for the Dixon Clark Court “little forest”, (Highbury protesters go the distance in bid to save estate trees, March 27).

While the felling of seven healthy mature trees has been postponed during lockdown, their future remains insecure.

A housing officer, writing on behalf of the borough’s chief executive, Linzi Roberts-Egan, states: “We anticipate this work will take place later on in the year”, repeating the absurd Town Hall assertion that saplings and a hedge “will vastly improve the air quality in the area” (March 31 email correspondence).

The stand-alone biodiversity action plan, part of the council’s consultation, is unequivocal: “Street trees… are a major contribution to the capture and storage of CO2 and improvement of air quality… tree stems and roots can store up to several tonnes of carbon for decades or even centuries”. (My italics).

Whoever thought that removing 50-year-old trees from noisy polluted Highbury Corner, replacing them with a new-build “enabling” private development, was a good idea? The times they are a-changin’, and it’s time to rethink the planning permission granted for this site.

MEG HOWARTH
N7 

Vision 2030: building a net zero carbon Islington consultation link: https://www.islington.gov.uk/consultations/2020/vision-2030-building-a-net-zero-carbon-islington-consultation.