A CONSERVATION area in Sefton Park could be under threat if “promises” continue to be broken by contractors, say activists.

Friends of Sefton Park spoke out after scores of alders were stripped of their branches along the northern end of Rathbone boating lake

But Martin Robinson of the lobby group said the work had been done despite promises the trees would be kept.

He said: “This is quite obviously preparatory to felling the trunks. By doing this, they have broken every promise they ever gave us.

“A clear commitment was made that the trees at the south of the lake would stay. I have copies of the plans which show this.”

Should these need to be tampered with the group would be informed, Mr Robinson recalled. But he added: “We have heard nothing from them.

“Then last Thursday, we were told that because of delays on the project, they were bringing in a new dredging firm with larger equipment. We were concerned, as we had already had a difficult time stopping the existing contractors cutting down trees round the Bandstand lake.

“We do not know if this is the last of it, or whether they now intend to take large numbers of trees in the conservation area at the other side of the park as well.”

This is fear at the heart the group’s complaints, and between 25 and 30 members turned out to a public meeting at the park yesterday.

Parks chiefs said they could not guarantee any area would be exempt. Work is scheduled to go on until December and encompasses much of the popular green zone.

A senior parks manager at Liverpool City Council said: “We’ve tried to minimise tree losses and the project has been changed to this effect.

“But some of the trees which have been allowed to grow over the years are now destroying the lake banks.

“The Friends of Sefton Park obviously thought certain trees weren’t being felled but the intention is to fell them. There’s clearly a misunderstanding.”

He said they were trying to turn round 50 years of damage to the park’s ecology.

However, the council’s explanations so far have done little to appease Riverside MP Louise Ellman.

She said:“I share the concerns of those protesting and the council doesn’t seem to be listening . . . “I’m seeking a meeting with the responsible people.”

Friends of Sefton Park is now is now considering an emergency meeting for Sunday, and could write to the primary funding body, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the Local Government Ombudsman.

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