Fury as trees face the chop

People living in Warren Croft in Handsacre, near Rugeley, are angry that the parish council has given the go-ahead to chop down the trees without any talks with people living on the street. An action group called Save Our Trees has been set up by residents in a bid to give the three trees a reprieve. The move to cut the trees down followed a complaint.

Handsacre and Armitage Parish Council made the decision to cut them down because an elderly resident whose home backs onto the trees said that youths were climbing up and looking into his home.

But the council has now agreed to stage a public meeting in the near future about the matter.

A council meeting took place on Friday to discuss the issue and residents were asked to leave as anger began to spill over.

Monty Burn, who lives in Warren Croft and is leading the campaign, said people were angry because a decision to fell the trees had been made without any consultation with residents. Over 40 people living in the vicinity of the trees had signed up to a petition calling for the trees to remain. They believe the removal of the trees would spoil the character of the area.

He said: "This decision has been made without proper consultation at all with the residents. People are up in arms at the potential felling of three established trees located in the very heart of a small local housing estate.

"All the campaigners are sympathetic with the property owners' concerns and seek to resolve the matter."

Martin Tittley, chairman of Handsacre and Armitage Parish Council, said: "When a resident comes to the parish council with clear concerns we need to take action.

"The trees are a problem for this elderly man as he has expressed his concerns to us about youths climbing the trees and looking into his windows. A decision was made by the parish council to remove them.

"This was made on health and safety grounds. We are very surprised by the reaction and would like a little common sense to be adopted here."