Bannside TUV Councillor Timothy Gaston
Local Bannside TUV Councillor Timothy Gaston has today highlighted the disadvantage being experienced by local communities and schools who can no longer participate in The Woodland Trust's 'free trees' scheme.
The organisation launched the scheme to 'make sure everybody in the UK has the chance to plant a tree', and every year gives away thousands of trees to schools and communities.
Commenting, Councillor Timothy Gaston said:
“Today’s news that there is a 'tree border' dividing the UK illustrates the absurdity of claims that the Protocol is no longer an issue. It also highlights the sort of nonsense which arises as a result of EU sovereignty in this part of the UK.
“The Woodland Trust scheme should see children across the UK plant trees which are native to the British Isles. However, trees which have travelled to and from across the Irish Sea for centuries are now banned from entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
“The 'Free Trees for Schools and Communities' scheme is designed to give 'everyone in the UK the chance to plant a tree'. Thanks to the Protocol, however, it is a scheme which is not available in Northern Ireland.
“The Government claimed that the Windsor Framework removed such absurd bans. Patently, however, this is not the case.
“What now of those claims by the DUP leadership that the Sea Border was gone? Clearly that is not the case. Claiming that an issue has been solved when it hasn’t is manifestly dishonest”.