Council suspends phase two after residents protest over tree damage
Work on the second phase of the £4.7 million Abington Active Travel Scheme in Northampton has been halted after local people raised concerns that construction activity damaged the roots of mature trees.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) had begun work along Park Avenue South and Bridgewater Drive when residents protested, saying the roots of a mature silver birch had been irreversibly harmed. The council subsequently removed the tree on safety grounds and announced the affected section of the scheme would be paused while a review is carried out.
- Scheme value: £4.7m (total project)
- Location of paused work: Park Avenue South and Bridgewater Drive, Abington area
- Community response: Residents formed a group, submitted a petition signed by almost 80 people, and requested information about tree protection measures
The Abington Active Travel Scheme is designed to encourage walking and cycling by installing improved footways and segregated cycle lanes, with the stated aims of reducing congestion and cutting carbon emissions. The scheme has been delivered in phases; the council says phase two will be subject to a review to ensure no further tree damage occurs before work resumes.
"The council said the tree had to be removed for safety reasons and work on that section had been paused, pending a review to ensure no additional trees were damaged."
Residents in the area told reporters they were alarmed by visible root damage to the silver birch and worried about the condition of other mature trees along the route. A local residents' group formed after details of the damage emerged and has sought clarity from the council about the measures used to protect trees during construction.
Those concerns echo wider debates across the country about how active travel and street-improvement projects are implemented in streets with established tree stock. Local campaigners and environmental groups frequently call for strengthened tree protection and independent oversight when works are carried out near mature specimens.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total project value | £4.7m |
| Current status | Phase two paused |
| Location affected | Park Avenue South and Bridgewater Drive, Abington |
| Community action | Residents' group formed; petition of almost 80 signatures |
West Northamptonshire Council has been approached by local people asking for full details of the tree protection measures that were in place when work began. Petitioners want to see how the council assessed risks to tree roots and whether contractors followed recognised guidance on working near trees.
The council’s decision to pause the section indicates an intention to examine the methods used on site and ensure future works do not repeat the same issues. For residents, the immediate priority is confirmation that mature street trees will be safeguarded for the long term and that any further works are planned with the highest possible regard for existing green infrastructure.
For the scheme’s supporters, the benefits of improved walking and cycling infrastructure remain clear: better footways and segregated cycle lanes are intended to increase active travel, reduce local congestion and lower carbon emissions. The pause, however, underscores the challenge of delivering urban infrastructure while protecting the town’s established trees.
As the review proceeds, both campaigners and supporters of the scheme will be watching for revised plans and stronger assurances on tree protection, and for a clear timetable indicating when work might restart on the paused section of Abington.
Local residents can expect the council to make the findings of its review available and to respond to the petition and information requests submitted by the newly formed residents’ group.
