Tree felling sparks protest at Portsmouth hospital site

The protesters spoke of their shock and disappointment that NHS Property Services cut down the four trees at St James’ Hospital in Milton last week.

Kimberly Barrett, 28, founder of the environment group Keep Milton Green, said: ‘People are really angry about it.

‘Those trees had been in the environment a long time, and people want to preserve as much of that as possible.’

Protesters fear the felling of the trees, which was approved by Portsmouth City Council’s planning committee earlier this month, will lead to back-door development of the site.

The NHS said the trees were unsafe, and needed to be felled as a safety precaution.

*Read the full report on the protest in tomorrow’s News.