Stumped

TREE shock . . . Ellen Cronin and her partner Glyn Taylor were upset to see the trees reduced to woodchippings in Pierce Street, Watersheddings

Why did council cut down our trees without even asking?

OLDHAM Council has apologised for failing to consult residents before cutting down trees outside their homes.

Ellen Cronin and her partner Glyn Taylor, of Pierce Street, woke up to the sound of power saws taking down 25ft sycamore trees which line the pavements.

They were told that the council had informed everyone in the street about the action by letter — but it hadn’t.

Ellen (46) said: “Many of us were just standing there helplessly watching in tears as the little bit of greenery outside our home was driven away as sawdust and chippings. It was disgusting.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they meant to take the trees down on the other side of the road because there the roots are sticking out of the pavement — people trip over them in the dark. There’s nothing wrong with ones on our side.

“I recycle religiously — the council asks us to — but I do ask myself why I bother when a lifetime’s worth of newspapers and magazines has just been chopped down in front of me in less than 15 minutes for no reason.”

Two days after the trees disappeared, residents received a letter from Glenn Dale, the council’s horticultural boss, saying: “We apologise unreservedly for our action in not informing you before this work went ahead.”

Councillor John McCann said the trees had been a constant source of complaint from some residents because of how near they were to houses.

He said: “Pruning and over-pruning has significantly affected the health and look of these trees. Concerns were raised about the possibility of structural damage which can happen when trees are planted close to houses.

“As the council is committed to preventing this sort of damage which is extremely costly to rectify, the decision was taken to remove the trees. Due to an administrative error, full consultation was not carried out.”