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Lord Rogers |
Top architect joins battle to save Guardian trees from axe
Lord Rogers warns that London planes ‘give shade and life to noisy street’
LEADING architect Richard Rogers this week joined the battle to save distinctive London plane trees outside the offices of the Guardian newspaper in Farringdon.
More than 200 Guardian staff and journalists, including the paper’s environment editor John Vidal and columnist George Monbiot, have objected to plans which they argue will destroy a vital green lung.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson, an Islington resident, has indicated he would be against the removal of the 10 trees in Farringdon Road and could call the scheme in for review.
The trees are all said to be in robust health and aged between 50 and 70 years.
Lord Rogers, chairman of the government’s Urban Task Force, said in a written statement: “The trees are beautiful and give shade, scale and life to a large and noisy street. They are also ecologically important. I strongly oppose their removal.”
His intervention has given new hope to campaigners fighting to save the trees.
It was planned to remove the trees when the Guardian transfers to new offices at Kings Place, King’s Cross, next month. Its existing building would then be developed to provide new shops and offices.
Green councillor Katie Dawson believed Lord Rogers’ statement would add extra clout to the campaign. She said: “The last application by developers to Islington Council was turned down, not because of the trees, but due to overdensity of the project.
“The developer has to re-submit the application and we’re hoping that, with all the opposition, he’ll decide against removing the trees.”
Cllr Dawson explained that, according to the latest legal advice, permission granted to the Guardian four years ago to remove the trees, when it wanted to develop the building, may no longer be valid. “As I understand it, Islington has a new tree policy, which should protect this line of trees,” she added.
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition opposing the loss of the trees. Petition organiser Meg Howarth said there was support from members of the Arts Council of Great Britain, which has its offices nearby, and the Tree Council, a national body.
She added: “These trees provide a wonderful green canopy in a concrete area devoid of greenery. They have withstood the ravages of pollution and traffic. It would be appalling to lose them.” The Guardian’s John Vidal said: “Almost everyone in the building is very upset about the threat to these trees.”
An application by developers to bring forward the front line of the building by five metres and remove the trees is due to be considered by the council’s south area planning committee early next year.
Lib Dem environment chief Councillor Greg Foxsmith said: “The council will seek the retention of trees. We have more trees per street mile than anywhere else in London and we want to keep it that way.” |
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