GREEN campaigners in Coventry held a mock funeral for trees cleared from the city centre in recent weeks.
Coventry City Council removed trees from the Upper Precinct and Smithford Way, in what councillors said is “work to revamp the city centre.”
Members of the Extinction Rebellion campaign in Coventry dressed in black on Saturday, in a funereal stunt to commemorate the destruction of the mature trees, which have stood in the city centre for decades.
Coordinated by Extinction Rebellion Coventry and the Coventry Green Party, the groups said: “The ceremony is in memory of the countless trees of Coventry that have been cut down over the last couple of years. There was a procession from Greyfriars Green to the upper precinct where a ceremony was held with readings and poetry.”
In a statement, Coventry City Council said: “A commitment has been made to replace every tree that have been removed as part of regeneration work in the city centre with two more.
“As part of the current work to revamp the city centre, a number of trees have recently been felled in three areas.
“Future plans for the Upper Precinct, Smithford Way and Market Way include plenty of new plants, greenery and seating areas as part of the work to help make the city centre ready for UK City of Culture 2021 and leave a lasting legacy for local people.
“Removing the trees was necessary to allow access to utilities and clear the area where improvements are taking place. Improvements have so far seen the removal of the green escalator and the Upper Precinct will soon see repaving, adding new water features and over 1000m2 of new planting, which will include trees.
“Across the city centre, approximately 50 new trees will be planted by the end of 2020 and the wood from the felled trees has been donated to a local school for their outdoor classroom.
Councillor Jim O’Boyle (Labour, St Michael’s), Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration, said: “The plans to improve the Upper Precinct, Market Way and Smithford Way have widespread public and cross-party support and will make a real difference as we get ready for our year in the spotlight as UK City of Culture in 2021.
“The plans have been widely publicised and have met with great excitement about the positive changes. The alternative was to leave things, such as the escalators into West Orchards, in place which was not an option that any of us wanted.”
Councillor Patricia Hetherton (Labour, Radford), Cabinet Member for City Services, said: “I want to reassure residents that there will be plenty of greenery in the city centre by the time all the work is done.
“Our aim has always been to create a more vibrant, cleaner and greener city centre for residents and visitors, especially ahead of Coventry being the City of Culture in 2021 as well as leaving a lasting legacy, and so we’ll make sure to plant two new trees for every one we have removed.”
The council added that the Bull Yard and Hertford Street will also see further improvements with the city centre’s street food traders, who are currently located in Market Way, being relocated to Hertford Street. Bull Yard will see a new children’s play area, new lighting and also a new water feature.
