Save the Duke Street Sycamore Tree in Margate

Save the Duke Street Sycamore Tree in Margate

Started
28 April 2021
Signatures: 1,732Next Goal: 2,500
Support now

Why this petition matters

Started by Save The Duke

Save The Duke Street Sycamore

We are members of the local Margate community who have come together to form a group named Save The Duke. Please sign our petition to save the oldest and largest tree in Margate Old Town.

We have set up a protest camp on a piece of land in Duke Street Margate in order to protect a mature sycamore tree - the Duke Street Sycamore, from being illegally felled by Thanet District Council, and we are also here to reclaim a Community Garden which should have been created on this site. 

The Duke Street Sycamore forms part of the skyline when seen from the harbour of the iconic seaside town of Margate, and is now under a death sentence passed by Thanet District Council.  It is one of the last remaining trees in Old Town Margate and is an essential haven for wildlife and pollinators.  It cools the air in summer and provides shade, sequesters Carbon and produces over 100kg of oxygen per year. This tree is an essential part of the natural flood defences and generally improves wellbeing for all. Now Thanet District Council have given the decision to fell the tree, despite the declaration of a Climate Emergency and over 70 objections, some of which refer to relevant laws which exist to protect trees such as the Duke. A block of flats which is not in keeping with the conservation area will take the place of this grand tree.

In 2011 TDC announced the Community Garden on the site as part of the Turner Contemporary regeneration project. Instead, the land was sold at auction at an inflated price and the tree was ignored throughout this whole process. The Community Garden would have formed part of the Conservation Area, and would have provided a tranquil sanctuary close to the busy seafront.

There are serious legal questions about TDC’s failure to perform duties and observe the law in granting the permissions regarding the tree, and there are serious concerns about the process by which the community garden project was managed.

Save The Duke demand immediate and permanent protection for this healthy beautiful tree.

Save The Duke demand an immediate investigation into the planning process which led to abandonment of the Community Garden and the approval to develop this site with no consideration for the Duke Street Sycamore. We demand that the funds allocated for the Community Garden are accounted for and put towards the purpose for which they were intended.

Please join or visit the camp.  Visit our group to find out how you can help and get involved. We are doing this for all the people of Margate and for the future of our children.  

Thanet District Council's current tree planting scheme is non existent, depending on volunteer groups to plant and take care of saplings in parks only. Kent County Council have planted a few street trees in the past year but fail to water them with the result that many have died. Meanwhile mature trees are felled throughout Thanet with little regard to planning legislation and zero enforcement. For this reason it is all the more important that the Duke is saved.

For more information join the facebook group Save The Duke https://www.facebook.com/groups/5600068963366998

and follow updates on Thanet Trees https://www.facebook.com/ThanetTreesUK 

Help the collective Fight Planning Crimes fight the illegal felling of the Duke Street Sycamore by contributing to the Crowdjustice campaign here: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-the-duke-street-sycamore

#savetheduke, #dukestreetsycamore, #savethedukestreetsycamore, #reclaimourgarden

Support now
Signatures: 1,732Next Goal: 2,500
Support now
Share this petition in person or use the QR code for your own material.Download QR Code