Well, the thing with trees is they grow and councils seem oblivious to this phenomenon. So they stick them in urban areas with paving surrounding the trees then are amazed when the increase of root size causes pavements to buckle.
I'm sure there's plenty of places they could plant trees without hitting this problem.
There are an enormous number of places. All down the central reservation of any road, i. e Stone Road. Holmcroft Road along the very wide grass verges to create a beautiful avenue of trees, around the perimeter of Holmcroft field, replace the old trees that came down in the cemetery, the list in endless.
What is interesting is that in cities and towns where the council have a brain they not only manage to plant trees but they plant them close to terraced houses by the gutter. Seen this in Liverpool and London now. You lose a parking space but the street gains nature, shade in summer, cleaner air and oxygen It will never take off in Stafford