I THANK Councillor Andy D'Agorne for peacefully protesting alongside residents of Fulford by sitting under the magnificent copper beech trees in an attempt to prevent them being cut down (September 28).

It is a breath of fresh air that a councillor was willing to stand up (well, actually to sit down) because he felt deeply that an injustice was being done.

I strongly disagree with P Willey (Letters, September 30) who said that it was inappropriate for a councillor to act in such a way.

On the contrary, having walked around knocking on hundreds of doors in Fulford I feel I can honestly portray the depth of feeling in the community over this issue, and I believe that people in York respect Coun D'Agorne more for taking part in what the community care about.

Too many councillors seem to sit isolated in their council offices making decisions that upset or ruin the lives of local people.

P Willey also suggested that the trees ought to be felled on safety grounds. City of York Council commissioned a report by an independent tree consultant who stated that the trees were healthy and safe.

Another report commissioned by the developers stated that the trees were susceptible to disease and were in a state of decline.

York council offered to pay for the trees to be "crown-reduced" rather than felled which would have removed any (perceived) risk of a branch falling off. Sadly, the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution who own the site and want flats to be built there, refused the council's generous offer and insisted that the trees should be felled.

I also thank local MP John Grogan who stepped in to persuade the owners to reconsider. His action may have saved one of the trees. Watch this space.

David Wilkinson

Atcherley Close,

Fulford, York

Updated: 10:39 Monday, October 04, 2004