MORE THAN 100,000 people are asking the council to stop the destruction of 70 mature trees by blocking plans for an Amazon warehouse.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the council officers on Thursday, October 14 and among them were Amazon warehouse protesters.

Presenting her petition to stop the destruction of 67 oak trees, which would be destroyed should an Amazon warehouse be built near Junction 7.

Christine Northam said: "We are thrilled. We have got 102,464 signatures worldwide, they have come from 107 countries but 4,000 of them are from the borough of Basingstoke.”

Christine, of the Clean Air, Green Environment group spoke in front of councillors to petition against the Amazon Warehouse project, which is entitled "stop the destruction of 67 oak and 3 beech trees on Oakdown Farm warehouse site".

Christine told councillors that she was "here on behalf of 102,000 people", with 4,000 of those from the borough.

She said: “These 4,000 people are not just petitioners, they are voters. They all strongly feel these mature oak trees should not be chopped down.

“They were planted long before the M3 was built, and we were born. They enhance the landscape on the North Hampshire Downs.”

She said that oak trees are estimated to be home to 2,300 species of wildlife and also act as lungs to counteract the CO2 pollution on the M3, A30 and all the new housing in the area.

She added: “The shrubs, hedgerows and grasses also provide benefits. The annihilation would be a step towards ecological disaster. It's not just about being a beautiful place to destroy.”

"What is the point of international leaders gathering next month in Glasgow to save the planet when local councils don't take action on their own? How could the destruction of 70 trees fit into that narrative?”

As previously reported by the gazette councillors approved plans to build a warehouse, thought to be occupied by Amazon, near Junction 7 of the M3, but refused outline plans for the wider development including three further units.

But Dummer Parish Council wrote to the borough council back in April challenging the legality of the decision, based on what it considers to be an error in the information given to the committee about how visible the development would be from the village.

Christine added: “You who we voted for are there to look after our best interest, not only for now but for later.

“If these trees are lost, you will be betraying the trust of 4,000 people, and you will be showing 102,000 people that you just don't care.”

Christine questions how the plans to destroy the tree’s fit in with the council’s declaration of “climate emergency”.

She said she urged councillors to listen to the “voices of 102,000 people and save the Oakdown oaks."

In response to her petition Councillor Onnalee Cubitt, said: “We hear you loud and clear.”

The development control committee of the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) is set to reconsider the full planning application for the Oakdown Farm warehouse on Wednesday, October 27.