There is anger today as Liverpool Council begins chopping down trees in a publicly owned city centre green space.
As this image shows, trees are currently being felled in the Bixteth Street Gardens area as the council moves forward with a £4.2m plan to create a new Grade A office hub in the area.
Campaigners have today described how a 'a park is being destroyed in the blink of an eye' - but the city council insists that it will be replaced with an improved green space as part of its Pall Mall scheme featuring double the amount of trees.
The authority is working to clear the land for a proposed 400,000 sq ft development, led by developer Kier.
There has been strong opposition to the plans, led by the Save Bixteth Street Gardens campaign and city centre councillor Nick Small.
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In a statement today, the group said: "As you can see, today saw Liverpool Council starting their destruction of our lovely park, we have been unable to persuade them to halt the work.
"Regretfully that we have been unable to pursue a Judicial Review into the granted planning application for Bixteth Street Gardens.
"Sadly, this is such a complex and expensive process we cannot pursue it, without great risks to the individuals involved.
"We now have to accept that we will lose this, one of the last remaining green spaces in our city centre."
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Liverpool Council currently has only planning permission for the ground preparation works and campaigners say they must now hope that promises about new green space will be kept.
They added: "With no planning application submitted for what will replace it, we have to hope we are wrong, we hope that Liverpool Council, who have made such efforts to not engage with our campaign, now focus on delivering something that can be good for the community.
"We don’t feel that it will be the same, but we cannot fight the will of the Mayor or the incumbent council employees, sadly the system is not designed for the people that it purports to serve."
They also issued thanks to all those who had supported the campaign.
The council insists that once the development is completed, it will result in an 'overall increase' in the amount of public space, including new pedestrian walkways, public seating and a new green square.
Speaking to the ECHO today, Cllr Nick Small said: "I'm disappointed that the trees have started to come down at Bixteth Gardens, especially when the main planning application for the offices, hotel and replacement public realm has not even been submitted.
"This application was due in several months ago. What's being proposed will see a 31% reduction in green space, which is not acceptable to residents living in the area. This campaign's not over. I'll continue to back residents to defend green space in the City Centre."
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “The proposed Pall Mall scheme is of huge importance to the development of our commercial district as we need grade A office space to attract companies and highly skilled jobs to the city.
"The next stage of this scheme which, if approved, will deliver a much needed high quality green square and new public realm for workers and residents to enjoy throughout the year.
“Judging by the designs it would set a new benchmark for our open spaces and help shape the wider development of the district."
The council also said that an independent ecologist is currently on site assessing each tree before it is felled.
