It would have been hard to have a discussion on this several years ago as this option was not agreed until the end of last year, alternatives were to take the route down past Boots and through the the main shopping area.
This is the consultation output from the consultation on this route (not the detail on felling trees) which ended in March this year.
http://www.dover.gov.uk/councillors/council_meetings/update/docs/agendadoverjoint070612.pdf
It is only just being decided on which trees need to be felled and details are not being released as DDC & KCC don't want the route to go through planning where people can have a say.
I am very impressed with the support the cycle path/destruction of beautiful trees/sidelining and narrowing of the River Dour within a known and recognised flood plain/ by people not connected with Dover at all: is getting on here.