Residents oppose plan to cut down trees

News imageToby Friedner/BBC A printed A4 sheet of paper is tied to a tree. The tree is growing out of the pavement. In the background, another tree takes up space on the pavement.Toby Friedner/BBC
Buckingham Council wants to fell 15 trees in Chesham

Residents have objected to plans to remove 15 trees from their street.

Buckinghamshire Council has launched a consultation on a proposal to fell the trees on Eskdale Avenue, Chesham.

Dan Tulloch, who lives there, said the trees had been "neglected for a while", damaging pavements, but the council could remove just a few of them and make pavement repairs.

The local authority said removing the trees would improve the safety and accessibility for pedestrians and people using mobility vehicles.

News imageToby Friedner/BBC A tree on a pavement is crooked, bent over a footpath and blocking access.Toby Friedner/BBC
Dan Tulloch says about 50 residents have signed a petition to protect the trees

The proposals also include widening the path as well as repairing kerbs.

People can comment during the consultation, which remains open until 24 August.

The council said "any option short of removing all 15 trees would result in residual risks to pedestrian users" and that replacement trees would be planted nearby.

Tulloch said: "We know that something needs to be done about the trees on our road. They've been neglected for a while and the pavement is a real mess.

"But when you actually read the council's reports, the case for actually cutting down every single tree just doesn't really stack up for us."

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