Email from Cllr Val Slater

One of the Saltaire Trees group received an email from Councillor Val Slater who is leader of the portfolio on the Public Realm Project. We are posting it here with the permission of Cllr Slater. We have also posted our responses to each point here.

Email received 20th February 2015 (reprinted with permission)

As you have come late to this debate I would like to correct a number of things that you are stating as facts.

Firstly it was not only the Council involved in the decision re the removal of the trees but this was an integral part of the Heritage site management plan that was agreed and endorsed by the World Heritage Site Steering group. This steering group involves representatives from residents and business in the area and includes The village society, the Unitarian church, Saltaire Stories, the college, the NHS( from New Mill), In communities, New Mason properties , local small traders, Baildon parish council, English Heritage and ICOMOS(who speak on behalf of UNESCO)as well as Council representatives. Each of the members especially the college and the larger business were tasked with communicating with their own staff and learners and feeding the response back into the process in addition to the consultation process the Council lwas carrying out .

You state that the council ignored the petition - it was not ignored but was looked at in depth for over an hour by the Regeneration overview and scrutiny committee( mixed political group of cllrs). The committee listened to the petitioners and to officers, questioned them and then came to a DEMOCRATIC decision that the removal of the trees go ahead with replacements where possible.   The committee accepted the FACTs that

1. a number of the trees were diseased and not in a good condition and that few of the remainder had a long shelf life. This was established by an independent tree expert.

2. because of the extensive wires, pipes etc underground - established by the test holes that were done - that the trees could not be replaced everywhere.  It is not a case of just digging a hole and planting a tree but in order to ensure that we don't get the same problem repeated with roots it involves installing a large underground container or pit that contains the roots but allows the tree to grow and that this could not be done everywhere as it would seriously disrupt services especially to key business such as PACE as well as householders 3.the trees had destroyed the pavements and these could not be repaired without removing the trees. You can clearly see the extent of the damage by looking at the tarmac areas which look like humps on the pavement. The temporary tarmac will lbe removed and the distorted ground levelled before new paving is put down. This could not be done with the trees in place.

4. People living on Victoria rd were having to keep their lights on all day as light was blocked by trees and this was not acceptable.  The people who now have  natural light in their houses are really grateful and happy about the action taken.  Would you have condemned them to live in unacceptable conditions.

5. People with restricted mobility , in wheelchairs and people with prams etc found it very difficult to walk safely and easily around saltaire. The council and the Steering group have responsibilities under the Equalities act. Are you saying that people haven't the right to be able to freely access the area without problems 6. Visitors to Saltaire (one of our Key tourist areas ) found the pavements unacceptable - as evidenced on trip advisor where Saltaire was found to be the 4th worst place to visit. Not a good message.

You state that we have ignored the views of the Village Society but this is not so. As far as I am aware there is no overall consensus from the members of the village society and no resolution objecting to the tree removal passed. This was evidenced at the scrutiny by a letter from an other member of the village society and by the Councils World Heritage Site officer who attended their meetings.  The Chair of the Village society used her position and individual opinion,  in my view incorrectly, to say that it was the Village society position when it wasn't.   This may have subsequently changed but I have not been given any evidence that is so. 

After the examination by scrutiny the matter was also referred to Shipley area committee as requested by the scrutiny committee on 26th of Nov. The Area committee - another cross party democratic body - welcomed the report re the public realm proposals including the removal of the trees and asked for further reports re progress. Various community groups including the village society were present at that meeting and had their chance to input 

 You are not happy about the consultation - you have had many replies from Cllr Love about the process including how people who live in Saltaire were contacted but I will add that there were also number of articles in the T and A , the issue also appeared on Look North and on the councils Website and also am aware that comments appeared both on Council face book and twitter feeds and were responded to.  I won't comment further as this is the main part of your petition and that hadn't closed yet.   

You also say that people should have been shown pictures of what it would look like with the trees removed. They were - this was all part of the numerous presentations that were done - both pictures of how it looked before the trees from old photos and postcards and a mock up of how it would look in the future.

We have had many many compliments following the tree removal - numerous people have said how well it looks as can see the buildings much better and once we get the public realm completed including the new lighting especially of the lions it will look even better and will bring more people into the area. Indeed today we have positive news about filming in Saltaire for a TV programme and supportive comment in the T& A from Robin Silver

 You complain about my articles in the press but this is about keeping people up to date as to what happens next.

Finally I want to stress that when making strategic decisions I have to look at what is best for the area as a whole  as a whole  and balance out the needs of residents , business and visitors as Saltaire is key. I do not base my decision on how you have voted in the past or intend to vote in the future - that is a matter for your local cllrs and you and the ballot box.   What I have outlined above shows how a thorough  DEMOCRATIC decision was reached. One that progressed via the WHS steering group, the council, scrutiny and the area committee but the problem with Democracy is that sometimes the decision you personally want is not the one chosen