The battle to save Churchill's 60-year-old oak tree

A village's battle continues to save a 60-year-old oak tree planted to commemorate the death of Sir Winston Churchill.

Outline planning permission was granted for a housing development in April 2022, which requires the tree to be felled to create an entrance to the site.

But since then residents in Cossington, Leicestershire, have campaigned to save the old oak - one of several planted along Main Street to commemorate significant moments in history.

Campaigners have now grown a sapling from one of its acorns and hope to keep the trunk and create a lasting sculpture or bench if the tree is felled.

Developer Bellway Homes said it bought the site with outline planning permission already in place which included the removal of the tree.

Penny Weston-Webb, 85, was at the planting in 1967 and remembered it with great emotion: "I thought the world of Winston Churchill.

"Everyone was just devastated at the time."

If the tree is removed, she said: "It's just sad to see something so important go."

James Poland, county councillor for the village, has been speaking to Bellway Homes, Charnwood Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council but says has not been able to save the tree.

He said: "It's just a real shame that it could well now be felled when it doesn't need to be.

"There's still time to change this and I would encourage Bellway, please engage with us and let's save the tree."

Emma Crowe, who is clerk of the parish council, said: "We want to keep the trunk of the tree so at least we can sculpt something and keep a memory going of Churchill in the village."

Bellway Homes said it bought the land with outline planning permission already in place, which included the removal of the tree, "which is a key requirement to be able to provide safe access to the site as requested by the highways authority".

"To retain the tree, a compromise would be required by the county highways authority on its required standards for visibility, which we understand was not something they were inclined to offer during the planning process prior to Bellway's involvement due to safety grounds.

"Of course, if a sensible solution could be found then we would be pleased to engage with any key stakeholders."

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