Unhappy Trowbridge residents turned out in force to block tree cutting

The contractors working for Wiltshire Council had pollarded around half of the trees back in January but were then forced to stop work because of weather conditions.

They returned on Thursday morning (May 26) to finish the job – only to find that some residents are unhappy about the trees being cut back while in full leaf and at the wrong time of year.

Cllr Stewart Palmen, the leader of Trowbridge Town Council, said: “They did about half of the trees back in January and people were confused about why they had not finished it off.

“I had residents asking me when it was planned to be completed as they were concerned about the large trees causing issues with phone lines etc and asked the contractor for a schedule.

“This morning the contractors turned up to try and complete the original contract but some residents say it is the wrong time of year.

“The contractors are now talking to their managers and are considering whether or not to go ahead now as many residents are unhappy.

“If they do go ahead they will inspect each tree for nesting birds first.”

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Highways, confirmed that work this morning has been suspended.

He said: “Our contractors will always carry out an assessment prior to undertaking works on trees to check for the presence of nesting birds and will only proceed if the work site is found to be clear.

“While all measures have been complied with to meet legal requirements, due to local concerns the works have been suspended and will take place at a later date."

But one resident, who did not wish to be named, said that most Avenue Road residents did not object to the trees being cut back.

He said: “The views expressed by one or two individuals are not universally held by most residents who want to see the trees cut back.

“Complaints have been made a few months ago about the lack of pollarding and the branches and leaves growing into the telephone lines.

“Most of us are in favour of the trees being pollarded. It happens every year. It just happens that this year it is at the wrong time of year.”

The resident said that leaving the trees could result in a fire hazard or branches growing into the telephone lines and bringing them down.

“If they don’t do it today, when are they going to do it? Are we going to have outages if the trees are left to grow and break the telephone lines?

“The branches are perilously close to the telephone wires. These branches have to go and if they don’t there are consequences for the people in our street.”