Campaigners who sat in a tree for a whole week to save it from being chopped down to make way for a new medical centre have won their battles.

The group, dubbed Keep River Lawn Green, scaled the popular horse chestnut tree last Friday after plans for the Tonbridge-based medical centre revealed the tree would be removed.

Healthcare property developer Assura announced today that they have spoken with those keen to see the tree remain and an agreement has been made to leave the tree alone.

A statement this afternoon said: “Removing a tree is never a decision which is taken lightly, and at all times we have acted upon professional, independent advice regarding this tree – following recommendations on its current condition and the likely impacts on the tree of the construction work for the medical centre.

“All required approvals and consents have already been given for its removal in light of those recommendations but at a meeting today with representatives of the Keep River Lawn Green group, we have proposed to carry out further investigations into any potential for the safe retention of the tree while allowing construction of this much-need medical centre to proceed.

“We have instructed leading independent tree experts to use their specialist ground penetrating radar to see if there are any reasonable adjustments which could be made to the foundation design to avoid important roots and to take a fresh look to see if the tree can be safely kept.

“We remain committed to working with the community to create this medical centre which will serve thousands of local people and the NHS, and to its safe construction.

“We thank everyone in Tonbridge who has supported the GP practice’s need for new healthcare premises to better serve its patients now and into the future.”

The battle to save the tree in River Lawn Road has rumbled on for two years and more than 1,500 people signed a petition to save it.