David Attenborough encourages boy to stage anti-cycle lane protest, as veteran broadcaster weighs in on plans to “sacrifice 26 irreplaceable trees” fo

A campaign aiming to quickly halt the last stage of a bike lane project in Coventry has received backing from an unlikely source: Sir David Attenborough. He reached out to an 11-year-old boy, offering guidance on organizing a protest against the building of the protected bike lane, which would involve cutting down 26 trees along the planned path.

The experienced broadcaster and environmental activist replied to a letter from a student in Coventry. The child expressed concern, stating it would be a “shame” if the city council moved forward with its plans to remove 26 trees on Clifford Bridge Road to make room for the final part of the Binley Cycleway construction.

The local government stated that the 6-kilometer-long dedicated bike path, connecting the city center to University Hospital Coventry, was created to meet the needs of individuals who typically don’t ride bicycles. The design aims to address their worries about safety and a lack of confidence while cycling.

Despite the council's efforts to encourage eco-friendly transportation in Coventry, the project has faced significant inspection and backlash from local residents in recent weeks.

The council has had to revise the plan three times due to feedback from the community. Residents expressed worries about the decrease in parking spaces along the street, the suggestion to narrow the lanes for cars, and the possible risk for drivers who might back out into the bike path without being able to see.

Hundreds of people have added their names to a petition criticizing the choice to remove 26 unique trees to create a cycle lane that is rarely used and poses safety risks. They claim this initiative contributes to increased pollution. However, the council has responded by stating that they plan to plant more trees to replace those that will be cut down.

In the previous month, we shared news about a petition that was created to call for an immediate halt to the cycleway project on Clifford Bridge Road in order to protect the "irreplaceable" trees. This petition has received more than 1,200 signatures. The local council, however, has emphasized that should the project proceed, the 26 trees that will be removed will be replaced with 32 young plants and various low-growing vegetation.

One local who disagrees with the plan is 11-year-old Reuben. He reached out to Blue Planet narrator David Attenborough, hoping he could sway the council's choice, according to a report from the BBC.

"They've been around for ages," Reuben said to the 98-year-old broadcaster, biologist, and naturalist. "It would be a real loss to see them disappear."

The schoolboy was astonished when Attenborough personally replied to him with a handwritten message, expressing his best wishes for the boy's efforts to protect the trees.

"I completely get why you're upset about the council's decision to cut down the trees you mentioned," the 98-year-old said to Reuben. Then, she recommended that he reach out to the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust for assistance with his efforts.

"They might offer guidance on how to plan a demonstration," Attenborough finished.

Even though Reuben acknowledged that he had trouble reading the broadcaster's handwriting from the past, his father Gopal expressed that they were surprised by Attenborough's reply.

"He usually enjoys writing letters to football players and believed he could apply those same skills to reach out to someone influential," Gopal shared with the BBC.

We were genuinely surprised and incredibly proud of Reuben when we saw that reply. He is a truly kind and compassionate young man, and he displays a lot of humility.

Local residents are against the proposed bike lane designs, arguing that they would put cyclists in a vulnerable position, making them easy targets for drivers entering and exiting their driveways.

Gopal pointed out that the people living on Clifford Bridge Road felt very strongly about preserving the trees. He noted that they had genuine concerns about how the situation would affect not just the local ecosystem, but also the well-being of the community.

Earlier this year, Coventry City Council revealed updated plans for the last segment of the Binley cycleway on Clifford Bridge Road. These changes were made in response to community input, resulting in the scheme being redesigned three times.

The new updated plans for the Clifford Bridge Road area indicate that the road will not be reduced in width to fit in the cycling facilities. Additionally, there will be an increase in the number of parking spots available compared to the initial proposal. A curb will also be placed between the cycle lane and the sidewalk along most of the route.

After residents voiced their worries once more in January about the possibility of cyclists colliding with drivers backing out of their driveways, a new petition was started in August. This petition requested an “immediate” stop to the project to protect the 26 trees that were planned to be removed as part of the initiative.

Will Delieu, the creator of the change.org petition, expressed that the proposal to remove trees during the cycleway's construction has "excessive consequences" and will lead to "permanent harm to the surrounding ecosystem."

"These trees have been a part of our community for many years, offering shade, improving air quality, and enhancing the natural beauty of the area. Cutting them down would not only ruin the green essence of our neighborhood but also lead to permanent harm to the local ecosystem," he explained.

"The suggested bike lane might appear to be a positive move towards eco-friendly transport, but the price is too steep. Removing these trees would lead to lasting harm to our environment, impact local wildlife, and affect the quality of life for residents."

Ann Wilson, the vice chair of Coventry Tree Wardens and one of the people who signed Delieu’s petition, stated that the trees along Clifford Bridge Road cannot be replaced.

Wilson stated, “The trees and the advantages they offer to the community are invaluable. They shouldn’t be removed for a bike path that is already hazardous, contributes to traffic jams, increases pollution, and sees minimal use.”

Residents express concerns that the planned cycle lanes could lead to dangerous situations, as drivers reversing from parked cars may not notice cyclists approaching at high speeds. They believe that improving visibility on the roads is essential for everyone's safety.

The effort to protect the tree isn't the initial public push to stop the development of the cycle lane on Clifford Bridge Road.

In January, local resident Dawn McCann started a new petition opposing the updated plans. She expressed her worries about safety due to the bike lane's closeness to the houses along the street. McCann argued that cyclists traveling at speeds of 30 mph could be dangerous for drivers backing out of their driveways.

"I believe they're constantly making small adjustments to distract us from addressing the real problem of safety," McCann stated at the time.

“People living on Clifford Bridge have no desire to harm cyclists, and no one would purposely hurt anyone. However, the current design of the cycleway puts cyclists in a vulnerable position.”

Although those against the proposal frequently express their worries about cyclists traveling at 30mph and possibly colliding with unaware drivers, one of the most startling events that occurred on the Binley cycleway happened last July. A Ford Puma driver was seen overtaking another vehicle by driving recklessly down the designated bike lane.

"Stuck in traffic? Just take the bike lane": Driver in court for speeding through a dedicated bicycle lane.

In response to the comments made by Reuben and Attenborough, Coventry City Council announced that the consultation period for the project ended on September 12th. They also mentioned that a meeting will take place later this year to discuss the issues brought up in the public petition and to review the input received during the consultation.

"The spokesperson stated that no progress will happen on the project until a conclusive decision is reached during the cabinet member meeting."

In the meantime, Gopal mentioned that he and Rueben have reached out to the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust via email to request assistance and are now awaiting a response regarding the scheduling of a meeting for local residents about this issue.