Coventry City Council

“Tree-hugging” protests backed by David Attenborough continue as council chops down trees to make way for controversial cycle lane

Long-running saga saw residents lose High Court challenge over "destructive" bike lane plans, but council says trees only being cut down because residents opposed loss of on-street car parking

Tue, Mar 18, 2025 15:52
28

Tree-hugging campaigners take “destructive” cycle lane plans to High Court, claiming council “won’t listen” to residents

The proposed cycleway has been the subject of months of complaints, protests, and accusations of “misinformation” after residents opposed plans to cut down 26 trees to make way for the active travel route

Mon, Mar 03, 2025 18:37
11

Controversial cycle lane ‘opposed’ by David Attenborough to go ahead after extremely narrow vote – as council says trees at centre of heated row are only being felled as “last resort”

The proposed cycleway has been the subject of months of complaints, tree-hugging protests, and accusations of “misinformation”, but was finally approved this week after councillors demanded more scrutiny of the plans

Fri, Jan 24, 2025 12:47
12

“We could have saved more trees”: Council approves loss of 26 trees to build cycle lane — but “saddened” authority says felling due to residents rejecting reduced road width

The trees will now be chopped down and replaced with 32 new saplings by the council, who have been accused of spreading “misinformation” by residents who previously organised the largest tree hug in the country

Wed, Dec 11, 2024 16:47
15

‘Tree-hugging’ cycle lane opponents ‘backed’ by David Attenborough accuse council of spreading “misinformation” – but local authority says trees are only being cut down because residents opposed loss of on-street car parking

While campaigners claim they are “concerned about the safety of cyclists and vehicles”, new data suggests collisions along other sections of the cycleway have “significantly reduced” since it was installed

Fri, Nov 22, 2024 17:20
30

“They just don’t want a cycleway”: Campaigners criticised for staging country’s largest tree hug to block “destructive” bike lane plans — while suggesting it could be built by “lighting up” nature reserve

The cycle lane has faced opposition from locals due to reduced parking and concerns about drivers “blindly reversing” into cyclists, and recently made headlines after Sir David Attenborough encouraged a 11-year-old boy to protest against it

Wed, Nov 20, 2024 15:15
23

David Attenborough encourages boy to stage anti-cycle lane protest, as veteran broadcaster weighs in on plans to “sacrifice 26 irreplaceable trees” for new bike route

More than 1,200 people have signed a petition urging the council to stop the cycling infrastructure project “immediately” – but the local authority says new trees will be planted in their place

Fri, Sep 27, 2024 12:10
38

Hundreds sign petition slamming decision to “sacrifice 26 irreplaceable trees” to make way for “dangerous, little used” cycle lane that “adds to pollution” – but council says more trees will be planted in their place

The cycleway was also the subject of criticism earlier this year, when residents claimed that collisions between cyclists and locals reversing out of their drives were “inevitable”, while a motorist was filmed speeding along it in July 2023

Fri, Aug 23, 2024 10:28
38

Residents oppose cycle lane plans that would make cyclists “sitting ducks” for motorists accessing driveways

One local claimed that motorists reversing into the driveway across the cycle path couldn’t help avoid collisions if cyclists were “aiming at you at 30”

Sun, Jan 21, 2024 13:31
33

Cyclists warned city’s new e-bike ban will be “clamping down on any cases of reckless behaviour”

The controversial Public Space Protection Order was approved last month, councillors saying e-bike and e-scooter riders were "too fast" and making pedestrians "scared for themselves" and for "the safety of their children"

Tue, Dec 05, 2023 18:08
36