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| Sheffield tree-felling: Lead councillor leaves cabinet job | Sheffield tree-felling: Lead councillor leaves cabinet job |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The councillor who was leading Sheffield's controversial tree-felling programme has quit the role. | The councillor who was leading Sheffield's controversial tree-felling programme has quit the role. |
| Councillor Bryan Lodge had been cabinet member for Environment and Streetscene at the city council for two years. | Councillor Bryan Lodge had been cabinet member for Environment and Streetscene at the city council for two years. |
| Since 2012, 5,500 trees, assessed by the authority as dead, dying, diseased, damaging or dangerous, have been cut down. But protesters have said healthy trees have also been lost. | Since 2012, 5,500 trees, assessed by the authority as dead, dying, diseased, damaging or dangerous, have been cut down. But protesters have said healthy trees have also been lost. |
| Mr Lodge said the last two years had been "interesting/challenging". | Mr Lodge said the last two years had been "interesting/challenging". |
| City council leader Julie Dore said he had resigned because of stress, which was affecting his health. | |
| More Yorkshire stories | More Yorkshire stories |
| In a Facebook post Mr Lodge, who remains a councillor, said: "Never let the truth get lost in the aggressive, nasty and personal abuse directed at us. | In a Facebook post Mr Lodge, who remains a councillor, said: "Never let the truth get lost in the aggressive, nasty and personal abuse directed at us. |
| "I'm proud to have worked with such a dedicated, hardworking and professional team of people. | "I'm proud to have worked with such a dedicated, hardworking and professional team of people. |
| "We need to get the people of Sheffield, all the people, back on board to realise the benefits of this biggest ever investment in the infrastructure of the city." | "We need to get the people of Sheffield, all the people, back on board to realise the benefits of this biggest ever investment in the infrastructure of the city." |
| He said the authority had "worked to improve the highway network across our fantastic city" but described it as a "political football". | He said the authority had "worked to improve the highway network across our fantastic city" but described it as a "political football". |
| "I hope that in years to come, others can hold their heads high because I know I can," he said. | |
| "To the campaigners, I respect your passion but can't condone the behaviour. Respect plays both ways." | "To the campaigners, I respect your passion but can't condone the behaviour. Respect plays both ways." |
| Mrs Dore said: "Over the last several weeks, Bryan has been expressing concern about his ability to continue in his role because of the impact on his family and his own personal health and well-being. | |
| "It's been an extremely stressful period especially for Bryan, but for all of us really, and he has sustained an enormous amount of personal abuse." | |
| The authority said it was replacing trees it classed as "damaging" or "discriminatory" by planting new ones as part of its £2bn 25-year Streets Ahead project. | The authority said it was replacing trees it classed as "damaging" or "discriminatory" by planting new ones as part of its £2bn 25-year Streets Ahead project. |
| But campaigners have said the trees should be saved and instead amendments be made to surrounding pavements and roads. | But campaigners have said the trees should be saved and instead amendments be made to surrounding pavements and roads. |
| In March, Environment Secretary Michael Gove waded into the row and accused the council of "environmental vandalism", promising to do "anything required" to end the tree-felling. |