Application 04/02500/F was put in on 25 November 2004 and includes the felling of 221 trees, including the near-complete Broad Walk and Extension Walk from the library to Tennyson Road and the trees that have survived on Red Mount Walk, Seven Sisters Walk and Terrace Walk. Summaries described it as "Construction of park management building/kiosk, new pedestrian bridge, new steps to bandstand, re-opening of entrance to Redmount Chapel and associated works" although the bridge and steps both cost less than the tree plans.

Walks Action Group co-ordinator Dave Cooper called it "undemocratic" and said "I think it's typical of the `hole in the corner' approach that the council have taken to the whole project." WAG researcher MJ Ray said "It took weeks for us to realise the full implications. If they have the support for felling they claim, why are they hiding it? The Council have not informed their `Friends of the Walks' about it yet and the review period includes the Christmas closure of their offices. The last schedule we saw said detail design of this stage would begin in February."

The application is expected to be heard by the council's Development Control Board on Monday 10 January. The Walks Action Group will publish further suggestions for friends through its web site at www.thewalks.co.uk and news releases, but is expected to support the building restoration work and oppose the unnecessary tree clearances.

The Council is asking for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund Public Parks Initiative and the lead consultants are Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick and Company. The HLF/SWK combination has recently removed many trees from Hylands Park in Chelmsford and "restored lost vistas" including the bypass, an industrial estate and some flats. Do they understand that park designs must make history by evolving, as well as inherit history from their original designs?