A SEMI-retired picture framer is to complain to Wiltshire Council about woodland behind his home in Bradford on Avon being neglected after a conker tree fell and blocked the road.

Edward Rooth, of Upper Regents Park, was at home yesterday evening when he heard the massive tree in Greenland Mills Wood fall down and looked outside.

“It was a very spectacular fall. It is a fairly massive tree,” Mr Rooth said. “It’s like a tree with three fingers and one of them sheared off away from the base.

“One trunk fell off and completely blocked the road. If anybody had wanted to get out they would not have been able to and if anyone had been coming home they would not have been able to get there.”

The fallen tree is situated in a narrow strip of woodland on a steep hillside overlooking the River Avon to the south of Bradford on Avon.

The woodland – known locally as ‘The Strip’ - has a mixture of some Scots Pine and broadleaved trees with a wide avenue running along the top.

Access can be gained from Bridge Road and entrances by the housing estates at the top. To the east of the wood is the River Avon and railway line and a public footpath leading from the town centre to the golf course.

The tree blocked the road from Greenland Mills into Bridge Street for more than two hours while residents waited for tree surgeons to arrive to clear it away.

After the incident, which happened just before 6pm, Mr Rooth called the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, who called the Wiltshire Council.

“They took two hours to arrive and didn’t start clearing the tree until gone 8pm,” Mr Rooth said. “They only cleared the road, it is still blocking part of the footpath.”

Some of the branches went over the river bank wall and trains using the Bath Spa line to Trowbridge have slowed down going past the spot where the tree fell.

Mr Rooth says Wiltshire Council should hand over management of the woodland to the town because they have neglected it.

“They assured us three years ago that every tree was safe, but I would like the town to take over the woodland and not leave it in the hands of Wiltshire Council, they have neglected it.”

Wiltshire Council has been asked to comment.