Save The Chestnut Avenue in Tooting Common

Dear FriendsThank you for signing the petition, started by Friends of Tooting Common, to Save Chestnut Avenue on the Common.  Subsequently, Friends of Tooting Common and the Save Chestnut Avenue campaign have agreed that the Save Chestnut Avenue campaign will be in the lead in taking forward consideration of further action to save the trees.  We are therefore writing to update you on developments in their campaign.Update on the Save Chestnut Avenue campaignThank you for supporting our campaign to Save Chestnut Avenue on Tooting Common.We’ve been incredibly busy behind the scenes – the campaign is getting so much attention that Wandsworth Council just issued a scaremongering press release to terrify people into supporting the chop!   Please be reassured that the trees are NOT dangerous.Read the new report we’ve attached by heritage tree specialist Jeremy Barrell, who concludes that the chestnuts have been well maintained by Wandsworth Borough Council, are safe, hugely important in terms of heritage and the environment and most have decades of life left! https://www.dropbox.com/s/25orj6t4njpmax2/Barrell%20tree%20report.pdf?dl=0But Wandsworth Council still won’t listen and are determined to destroy the avenue this Autumn, so we urgently need your help. Please write an email/ letter or both.  Explain why you don’t want the chestnut trees destroyed.  We’ve attached a list of our objections to ‘fell and replace’ which you can use in your argument, but please do not copy verbatim, make your message personal – and attach Jeremy Barrell’s report. https://www.dropbox.com/s/fu9oss6yoo1tmwm/Save%20Chestnut%20Avenue.pdf?dl=0Who should you write to?Wandsworth Council.Jonathan Cook, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Services is the decision maker for Chestnut Avenue. Ask your ward councillors to talk to Jonathan Cook on your behalf. He is more likely to listen to his fellow conservative councillor colleagues so it is particularly important to get their support. You can even cc Jonathan Cook and Ravi Govindia, the Head of the Council into your emails. Remember the Wandsworth Council elections are next year so they are keener than ever for public support.jonathancook@wandsworth.gov.ukrgovindia@wandsworth.gov.ukTo find your local councillors, type in your postcode here – http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/200438/councillorsOnce you’ve found your councillors – click on their name to get their contact details.Heritage Lottery FundStuart Hobley, Head of HLF London  –  london@hlf.org.ukRos Kerslake, Chief Executive of HLF – sarahO@hlf.org.uk (administrator).Explain the flaws in the consultation, your dismay at the destruction of beautiful heritage trees and how wonderful if would be if their grant could be used to restore the avenue rather than fell and replace.MP for Tooting, Rosena Allin-Khan met with us this week.  She has always been passionate about this campaign, not only as our Tooting representative in Parliament but as a local and a mum. She would like to encourage as many letters to be written as possible from members of ALL political parties. She feels our case will be stronger if we continue with our community driven, cross-party approach. She will be asking Jonathan Cook for answers on why the council have not yet responded to our requests to review Jeremy Barrell’s report and do whatever she can to bring awareness to Save Chestnut Avenue.Upcoming EventsLet’s Talk Bedford Ward meeting on May 11th is VITAL!  This public meeting will include all Bedford Ward councillors – Fleur Anderson, Antonia Dunn, Rosena Allin-Khan, Simon Hogg (Labour Leader of WBC) and Ravi Govindia, and is our chance to show as much cross-party support as possible. If you are a Bedford Ward resident and are free to attend please contact us for details.You’ll see us on Chestnut Avenue most weekends and we’re organising workshops and a big event during London Tree Week – May 27th – June 4th so keep your eyes peeled for further details on how you can get involved. Please follow us on FB and Twitter at Save Chestnut Avenue and spread the word – we must Stop this Chop!If you have any queries, links to the press, or suggestions for the campaign, please drop us a line at savechestnutavenue@gmail.comCan you also help spread the word by forwarding the petition link to your friends? https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-trees-on-chestnut-avenueThanks again for your continued support.Save Chestnut Avenue.