At a Glance
- Campaign to protect Chester, a 150-year-old London plane tree on Chichester Road.
- Tree Preservation Order now secured, but public safety and accessibility improvements delayed.
- Over 31,000 signatures collected in support of saving the tree.
- Legal advice reveals potential council errors regarding tree removal and human rights.
- Campaigners remain determined to balance green heritage with safer footways.
Chester: A Vital City Tree
On Chichester Road stands “Chester”, a 150-year-old London plane tree. The area is notably lacking in trees. Street trees provide shade, cool streets, filter pollution and contribute to the city’s green heritage. Katy Treverton describes the area as “so lacking in greenery”, adding: “We cannot live in a world of cement, devoid of life.”
The Campaign Begins
The campaign started in January 2024 after residents discovered plans threatening Chester amid highways concerns and redevelopment at the adjacent Tylers Avenue site. Within days, supporters collected signatures and requested a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). A petition in February attracted more than 31,000 signatures.
Legal Opinion Strengthens the Case
In 2025, the campaign obtained legal advice from barrister Monica Feria-Tinta of Twenty Essex and formally submitted it to the council. Her opinion concluded that the council had erred in law and identified potential human rights and climate breaches. This advice, though not a court judgement, strengthened the case against removal.
Tree Preservation Order Secured but Delays Persist
The TPO request was received on 31 January 2024. A provisional order followed in October 2025, becoming permanent in February 2026 – more than two years later. However, campaigners remain frustrated by further council delays regarding accessibility and public safety.
Footway Improvements Overdue
In June 2024, campaigners met council officers to discuss a pavement build-out, guardrails and signage to make the footway safer without sacrificing Chester. On 25 February 2026, the council’s Development Engineer told the Planning Committee the footway would be widened within “the next two months”. By October, campaigners said the deadline was 24 weeks overdue with no visible sign of widening.
Wheelchair users, parents with prams and others needing safer access are still waiting.
Looking Ahead
Chester now has a permanent TPO, but that is not an absolute guarantee it can never be removed. Campaigners will keep monitoring the situation. Save Chester’s message is simple: protecting trees while improving accessibility and public safety is achievable.
Campaign co-founder Tim Fransen says: “Chester shows why mature trees should be protected, not treated as obstacles. Accessibility and public safety can be improved without destroying our green heritage.”
Find out more and join the campaign at savechester.org.