Villagers up in arms as Oxford University chops down trees

90 poplar trees, that form a key noise barrier with the A34, are currently being felled between Wolvercote and Wytham.

Resident Steven Robinson explained that the ‘commotion began on Monday morning’ and there had been a ‘procession of tractors’ leaving the site since.

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He said: “We had no notification that this was going to happen and still have not heard from the university.

“There has been absolutely nothing on an issue that clearly impacts all of us.”

A Goff Street resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “By cutting down the trees, they are killing off wildlife.

“What’s more the whole consultation process was non-existent.”

The poplar trees were located on university-owned land close to the A34, along Godstow Road.

Wolvercote residents explained that the noise levels in the area already exceeded safe levels due to the volume of traffic on the A34.

Wolvercote villager, Rob Whitty, set up a campaign to get an acoustic sound barrier installed along the road by the village.

He said: “Everybody that has received the news that 90 trees were going to be cut down is shocked.

“The felling of the poplars is linked to the sound levels in the area because the trees acted as some sort of mitigation to the noise of the A34.

“Now it is only going to get worse.”

The University of Oxford has justified cutting down the trees on the basis that they were hybrid non-native poplars and therefore the move would enhance biodiversity.

A university spokesman said: “The university regrets having to remove these trees, but wants to stress that this work was urgently and solely necessary to protect biodiversity in the thousand-year-old protected Site of Special Scientific Interest. 

“The SSSI is of local and national importance.

“In particular, the vegetation forming ‘MG4 grassland’ on the site is of particular conservation importance due to its rarity.

“All works were carried out with the agreement of the Forestry Commission and Natural England. 

“The university is engaging with communities local to Baynham's Meadow around how we are replanting the area affected by our work with a more suitable species of tree.”

City councillor for Wolvercote, Jo Sandelson, explained that the council and residents wanted to know why they were not informed in advance about the felling order that was granted.

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She said: “There was considerable concern from hundreds of people living just across the mill stream on the Mill site and in Webb’s Close.

“They woke to the sound of chainsaws this week and trees crashing down only tens of metres from their homes.

“The tall Poplars have offered a visual screen to the A34 which passes nearby and these trees make a large difference in the transmission of traffic noise.

“This is another reason why National Highways should make Wolvercote an NIA (Noise Important Area) and provide a sound barrier to protect the local population.”