It won't bring back the trees - but at least city council has admitted that its action were wrong

                                                                                   

Thousands of trees were inappropriately felled with devastating consequences for birds and other wildlife 

SHEFFIELD City Council has apologised "unequivocally" for its conduct in felling thousands of trees - and for its role in the bitter row that followed.

The apology follows publication of a highly critical report published by an independent chairman, Sir Mark Lowcock. 

A statement issued by the council's chief executive, Kate Josephs, and leader, Cllr Terry Fox reads as follows: "We have taken some time to look through Sir Mark's report into the Sheffield Street Tree Dispute.

"However  the council will need more time to consider and reflect on the findings. 

"What is clear is that there were some serious errors of judgement and we apologise unequivocally.

"As an organisation, having already spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on where things went wrong, the report has further highlighted many uncomfortable home truths that the organisation were aware of already.

"However, there is some difficult further reading.

As is explained in Sir Mark’s report,  the city council produced a document that subsequently misled the courts, the Independent Tree Panel and the public. 

"Whilst the report is clear that no individuals gave evidence they believed to be false or misleading, that does not take away from the fact the document did mislead people. 

"We are sorry and we should have done better."

"We acknowledge that our actions have had serious implications for the people involved. 

"Campaigners and members of the public suffered as a result of our actions and we put our own staff in positions where their actions were ultimately wrong.

"We need to make personal apologies to a significant number of people individually and it is only right that we take the time to identify every single person and reach out to them directly.

As pointed out by Sir Mark, we have been making significant steps to be better and do better. 

"We have work to do to regain the trust of the people.

"We hope that this report marks the end of the dispute and the start of the reconciliation."

The rumpus dates back to 2012 when the council awarded a £2.2-billion contract to Amey to fell thousands of trees as part of a roads, pavements and street lighting maintenance project.

There were were numerous protests, and the police often had to be called in to maintain order.