Friends of Turnham Green Vote Overwhelmingly for Cherry Trees
Long dispute over planting proposals appears to have ended
Rebecca Frayn posts notice of cancellation of planting two years ago. Picture: Abundance London
The row dubbed ‘Cherrygate’ over which trees to be planted on Turnham Green appears to have come to an end.
The results of a consultation held by the Friends of Turnham Green (FoTG) between 17 November 2021 and 7 January 2022 have been published and there was overwhelming support (90%) for 10 more cherry trees to be added to the existing rows on the Green with nearly 400 people responding.
Other proposals for planting additional trees around the periphery and around the Fromow Corner area proved almost equally popular, with an approval rate ranging from from 81 to 89%.
The initial proposal for the trees was made over two years ago and was approved by 75% at the group’s AGM but procedural concerns were raised by some members of the Landscaping Committee, including Jill Spencer, who asked local ward councillor Joanna Biddolph to intervene.
This sparked off a bitter and extended dispute with one group alleging that the councillor had deliberately acted to prevent the trees being planted.
A later bid by Jill Spencer to be elected chair of FoTG and replace the incumbent Rebecca Frayn failed when she only gained 21% of the vote.
The consultation itself proved to be controversial with Cllr Biddolph writing a long and detailed letter to the leader of Hounslow Council raising a wide range of concerns about the way it had been handled. Rebecca Frayn responded by describing the councillor’s behaviour as “deranged” and saying she was on a “one woman mission to prevent any new tree planting on Turnham Green”.
The council responded to Cllr Biddolph's concerns, making changes to improve the consultation and the information on its website, and the consultation went ahead.
Rebecca Frayn said afterwards, “We are delighted by these results which are a great step forward for this much loved park and will make a valuable contribution to the climate crisis. It’s a great pity we were forced to delay planting by two years, but I’m delighted we can now go forward. I hope that with the planting of the new trees – now democratically endorsed twice over – the whole saga can be put behind us. Much time, money and goodwill has been squandered by the actions of Cllr Biddolph, actions which raise serious questions about her suitability to represent the community given her on-going opposition to popular local initiatives, green enterprise and democratic mandates.”
FoTG secretary Ed Stanley compared her to the Black Knight in Monty Python.
Councillor Biddolph insists that it was never her intention to prevent the planting of trees and says she was responding to some of her constituents’ concerns that due process was not being followed.
She said, “Like many Chiswick residents I care deeply about our open spaces; about our trees and their importance and value; and about climate change. All councillors, including me, ever sought was to ensure that plans for tree planting on Turnham Green were proposed democratically. When residents raised concerns about the process, including having been presented with only one option, we asked for a postponement so discussions could take place.
“I explained this in my statement of 20th February 2020.
“It is for others to judge why some residents exaggerate. I will continue to work hard on behalf of Turnham Green ward.”
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February 20, 2022
