RESIDENTS in Melksham are in "uproar" about the lopping of an iconic line of 25 Lombardy poplar trees in the town's King George V Playing Fields.

Last week, they were told by Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Cllr Bridget Wayman, that specialist tree surgeons would lop three to five metres off the trees to make sure the poplars have a longer and healthier life.

But the contractors have completely taken out three out of 15 trees in one of the stands and have “decimated” five other trees by lopping up to ten metres off them, says the town’s mayor, Cllr Adrienne Westbrook.

She said: "Residents are in uproar about what's happening. They are very angry. Some of the trees are like sticks.

“They will grow back in time but for the whole of this year we are going to be left with bare trees. They should have done it in the winter.”

She has accused Wiltshire Council of “mismanaging” the publicity relating to what was going to happen to the trees by lopping far more off them than residents were last week led to expect.

“I received many complaints from residents last night. We can’t believe that Wiltshire Council would do this.

“Had we been told exactly what was going to happen, there would not have been all the complaints about it.

“They have mismanaged the situation. If they had made residents aware of what was going to happen, it would not have caused any issues.”

The trees were last cut back around 10 years ago, sparking similar complaints to those expressed now.

They were due to be felled last year but an independent survey and a campaign by locals helped to save them.

Last week, Cllr Wayman said that only three to five metres would be lopped off the trees.

She said: “The work will leave these lovely trees in a better condition. They will continue to adorn the landscape for Melksham residents to enjoy for many years to come.”