Protester saves tree from the chop

Campaigners staged a protest in the plane tree

A protester has foiled plans to chop down a historic plane tree in a Wiltshire town's market place.

The last of four trees, which had been part of the market scene in Devizes for more than 100 years, was to be felled after it was declared unsafe.

The other trees have already been cut down despite months of protest from local people.

On Wednesday afternoon, just hours before a 1700 BST deadline for the tree to be cut down, a protester climbed into the branches.

I understand there's a degree of sentiment and that there will be people who wish to express regret

Kennet District Council leader Jerry Wilmott

Officials decided for safety's sake it was better to postpone the felling.

As about 40 protesters gathered in the market place, contractors were told to call off the operation and return at a later, as yet unspecified, date.

After months of campaigning, people believed they had won a reprieve for the tree when Kennet District Council agreed to call in an independent expert to assess its stability.

But a report last week said the tree should be chopped down immediately and the council leader urged protesters to stay away from the felling.

In October 2001, campaigners climbed the tree and chained themselves to it in order to get their views across.

The tree is the last of four in the market place

But council leader Jerry Wilmott had said he wanted to see an end to the protesting and direct action.

He said: "I understand there's a degree of sentiment and that there will be people there who wish to express regret that it's coming down.

"That regret is shared by all the councillors who were involved in this difficult decision, but I hope there is no trouble."

Mark Watkins, one of those who fought to save the tree, says last year's protest was a matter of principle after the other trees were felled against local people's wishes.

He said: "It was the fact that they didn't listen to the townspeople that really riled us.

"We had to make our point heard because the council just bulldozed over us.

"We had to say 'just stop, listen to the people' - we needed to be heard."