THE mayor of Bradford on Avon has rejected an offer to mediate from a Natural England senior adviser in an ongoing row over the felling of trees in the ancient Becky Wood above Avoncliff.

The senior adviser from Natural England, known only as C R, had offered to help resolve an ongoing conflict over plans to fell, lop or monolith more than 70 trees in the ancient woodland, which is home to a variety of wildlife including rare bat species.

In email correspondence to a member of The Friends of Becky Addy Wood, the town’s mayor Cllr Katie Vigar said she “does not think” that further discussions will be helpful.

She told FROBAW: “Thank you for this suggestion, which I’ve discussed with other councillors and officers, and a call has been made to C R to see what he envisaged.

“We do believe that every effort has been made to engage positively with FROBAW and we do not think further discussions will be helpful at the current time.”

FROBAW members wish to buy the wood from the town council, which voted unanimously on September 6 to withdraw its proposal to sell the wood.

The council claims that FROBAW failed to meet terms and conditions for the sale by agreed deadlines.

To date, 19 trees have been felled, lopped or monolithed. Officers are now understood to be pressing ahead with plans to fell, lop or monolith a further 58 trees - even though FROBAW says the work is totally unnecessary.

Earlier, FROBAW had warmly welcomed “this generous offer of mediation”, which could allow the two parties to resolve their differences over the management of risk in the precious ancient woodland - one of the UK’s rarest wildlife habitats.

A FROBAW spokesperson said: “FROBAW is hopeful, because the council’s most recent surveyor now agrees that the risk from all remaining trees is “tolerable” according to Government safety guidance despite the footfall in the woods being greatly over-estimated.

“Three risk surveyors have now inspected the trees and agree the risks are tolerable yet the council still proposes further felling or severely cutting back 58 more trees."

FROBAW claims the Environmental Law Foundation has also welcomed the Natural England senior adviser’s extraordinary offer, which follows months of disagreement over the felling, lopping and monolithing of trees in the wood, particularly those that overhang public footpaths.

Writing to the council yesterday, an ELF spokesperson stated: “This is an unusual and generous offer from NE and FROBAW have expressed their willingness to engage with this process and are keen to begin the process as a matter of urgency.

“We trust that the town council has also made a positive decision to accept this offer from NE as it would seem extremely important for local people to see the town council actively seeking a resolution to what has become a difficult situation in the community.

“This mediation, brokered by a Natural England environmental expert, offers the best hope that no tree will be needlessly felled in this rare ancient woodland.”

But the town council appears to have rejected the mediation offer, saying: "We have spoken to Natural England and this offer is not on the table."