TREES received a big hug from overjoyed residents after a decision to save them meant a controversial drive-thru coffee shop got the chop instead.

The proposal to build a drive-thru coffee shop, rumoured to be a Starbucks in Elgar Retail Park in Blackpole was due to come before the city's planning committee later this month.

Worcester News: JUBILANT: Cllr Jill Desayrah at the Elgar Retail Park in Blackpole in Worcester after the trees were saved and plans for a drive thru coffee shop stopped JUBILANT: Cllr Jill Desayrah at the Elgar Retail Park in Blackpole in Worcester after the trees were saved and plans for a drive thru coffee shop stopped (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

However, the controversial application to Worcester City Council has now been withdrawn by the applicants with TPOs placed on four of the trees.

The decision has caused ripples of relief among residents who feared the coffee shop would add to traffic congestion, parking problems and noise complaints.

Matt Brown, 61, of Salters Close, said: "I think it's absolutely fantastic it has been stopped. There are so many ash trees dying in Blackpole, it's criminal to cut down any healthy trees."

Worcester News: FLASHBACK: Warndon councillor Jill Desayrah (left) and resident Matt Brown were among a group protesting against the proposals for a Starbucks FLASHBACK: Warndon councillor Jill Desayrah (left) and resident Matt Brown were among a group protesting against the proposals for a Starbucks (Image: Newsquest)

However, he did ask why the tree preservation orders could not have been put in place sooner as he and others had put work into preparing to fight the scheme at committee. 

The planning application was by Legal & General Assurance (Pensions Management). It has declined to comment on the application.

However, the Worcester News understands that Legal & General is looking at a redesign that retains the trees but this will involve a new application.

A tree planning officer said the proposal  'seems to go against the council's aspirations of increasing canopy cover in the city and the council's statutory duty to protect trees worthy of protection'.

The proposals involved the creation of a drive-thru in what is now the car park of the retail park in Blackpole and, had it gone ahead, would have resulted in the loss of five trees and other shrubs including Ash, London plane and Beech trees.

The site has 33 individual trees in total according to documents submitted as part of the original planning application which had been due to be heard at Worcester Guildhall on January 18.

In total, 35 car parking spaces would have been lost to the new drive-thru, although 11 would have been provided elsewhere at the retail park.

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Warndon's Labour city councillor Jill Desayrah, said:  “Saving trees is vital in this climate emergency we are in and even more so in the context of the ash die back crisis.

"The residents I have been supporting in objecting to this flawed proposal are so happy to see it has been withdrawn.

"We will continue to be vigilant, resisting any future applications that would adversely affect their daily lives." 

Tom Collins, the Labour candidate campaigning to be Worcester's next MP,  said: "We are delighted with this great result, and it shows the power of local collaboration and leadership.

"Trees are vital - for wildlife, for our environment and to protect us from the increasing impacts of climate breakdown. Local people and their Labour councillor worked hand-in-hand to raise awareness of the issues, and in the end we have avoided the loss of some precious trees and stopped a traffic nightmare from worsening."