Over a thousand sign petition to save 'vital' trees in Burgess Hill

The petition started by ex- Burgess Hill Mayor and Green party Councillor Anne Eves, calls to save two trees outside Martlets shopping Centre from being cut down after council plans to demolish the trees to build brand new park.

According to Cllr Eves, the council plans to replace the mature trees with saplings, which will not give shade for many years and may not survive the recurring heatwaves.

With temperatures set to reach 29 degrees in Sussex this week, Anne Eves explains why this issue is raising concern amid the heatwave.

She said: “As people's minds have been concentrated by the succession of heatwaves, they are very aware of the need for shade and the ability of trees to lower temperatures.

“In Burgess Hill town centre, a town of 30,000 people, there are only eight trees... part of the reason why our town is so desolate is because we have so few trees.

“I have started this petition because I realise hardly anyone knows that this act of folly is going to happen, and I feel that once people do know, they will want to stop it.”

Councillor, Janice Henwood commented: “This is really important to the people of Burgess Hill. Why hack down more vital trees that create shade?”

The petition has been uploaded to Change.org and campaigners hope that the Mid Sussex District Council will allow these trees to stay.

A spokesperson for Mid Sussex District Council said: “The impact on the existing trees within the Martlets Shopping Centre was carefully considered by the Planning Committee as part of the planning application process. While the Committee recognised that the redevelopment would result in the loss of the plane trees on the site, the applicant proposed extensive mitigating measures, including the planting of more than 70 new trees to enhance the local environment. Taking these factors into account, the Planning Committee granted permission.”