Anger grows over Stanborough poplars felling

OTHER figures have joined Nigel Quinton in expressing sadness and suspicion about the revelations in the second report into the poplars at Stanborough Lakes. As reported yesterday on www.whtimes24.co.uk, the former Lib Dem councillor had slammed Welwyn H

OTHER figures have joined Nigel Quinton in expressing sadness and suspicion about the revelations in the second report into the poplars at Stanborough Lakes.

As reported yesterday on www.whtimes24.co.uk, the former Lib Dem councillor had slammed Welwyn Hatfield Council's decision to axe 195 Lombardy poplars.

He called for a full probe after revelations an independent report had suggested pollarding would have sufficed.

Labour parliamentary candidate Mike Hobday said: "This report blows a massive hole in the council's case to fell the trees.

"Sadly, it's too late to save the south car park.

"But the truth about how council officials behaved has to come out if the public are to regain any trust in the council's decision making process."

Panshanger resident Will Davis believes fewer trees would have been axed if the cabinet "had truly reflected the recommendations from the report".

He said: "It strikes me as odd that of the three professional tree reports carried out, the only one to be kept under wraps was the one that did not advocate a total fell."

Former councillor Dr Dennis Lewis said: "The council, in the shape of Cllr Clare Berry, has been adamant that ALL the trees had to be felled.

"At best this was a misreading of the report.

"At worst it was a deliberate attempt to keep the conclusion under wraps until the trees had been taken down."

Cllr Berry was adamant the council had not misled the public in any way.