Sheffield council says sorry for misleading residents over tree felling

Ombudsman finds authority 'deliberately set out not to reveal true advice' about alder tree

Sheffield council has apologised after a year-long independent investigation found it "deliberately" misled residents over the city's street tree-felling programme.

A resident, Sally Goldsmith, questioned the decision to remove an alder tree in Aldam Way, Totley, and was told by a council contractor in August 2017 that removal was recommended because of "decay within the stem". It added that an independent surveyor had "confirmed a decay pocket " as well as damage to the highway network". A similar email was sent to another complainant.