THE Sheriff of Oxford has ridden in to stop Network Rail chopping down trees on the fringe of Port Meadow.

The rail infrastructure company began cutting down trees on the edge of track bordering the historic meadow last week. It was part of its plans to increase capacity on the railway corridor through Oxford by reinstating a fourth track from the city’s station to Wolvercote.

But a city council tree officer ordered the work be halted after neighbours and councillor Jean Fooks, the Sheriff of Oxford, complained.

Network Rail, which had planned to fell trees for about a mile between Godstow Bridge and Aristotle Lane, is now in discussions with the council about whether the scheme can resume.

The trees, which are on railway land, are being cut down to assess the potential for running larger freight trains through Oxford.

Ms Fooks, whose role as Sheriff of Oxford makes her responsible for Port Meadow, said she was worried about the ecologicial impact and the threat to nesting birds.

She added: “The work began last week. Everybody jumped up and down and the city council’s tree officer Kevin Caldicott rose to the occasion and has managed to stop it for the time being.

“The main concerns are the damage to the general surroundings and the fact that it’s bird-nesting season. This is not the time you cut trees.”

She added: “As the sheriff I am responsible for Port Meadow and I don’t want it spoiled.

“People want to know what is actually necessary. Should you be doing it now, if at all?”

City council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “We have spoken to Network Rail and they have agreed to hold off felling the trees while we have further discussions with them.”

The extra track would allow trains from Oxford towards the Cotswold Line and to Banbury to run in parallel rather than sharing the current track.

Network Rail spokesman Sam Kelly said: “The work we are doing is part of a wider scheme to enable longer freight trains to run in the Oxford area in the future.

“Freight is vital to Britain’s economic success and it also plays a big role in reducing congestion and carbon emissions.

“We are aware of local people’s concerns and the work has been temporarily suspended while we have further discussions with the council.”