Homeowners' anger as cherry trees chopped down

Residents in a quiet Black Country road are furious after trees dating back more than 50 years were chopped down without warning by a council.

The four cherry blossom trees in Stevens Road, Stourbridge disappeared suddenly from the landscape – and there are plans to get rid of another three.

Dudley Council says the trees have been removed because the roots have caused minor damage to the paving stones.

But residents argue the streetscene has now been ruined as the trees are part of the area's history.

They are collecting a petition and say the authority should give residents the opportunity to air their views before trees are felled.

Richard Williams, aged 62, of Stevens Road, said: "I just happened to look out of the window on Friday and I saw the workers arriving. I presumed they were going on to someone's property so I couldn't believe it when they started on the trees in the street.

"Imagine our horror when we found that the council were cutting them down without any warning and no formal notification to the residents. If the trees were diseased or dying, it would be a tragedy but to cut down healthly trees is criminal."

John Millar, director of the urban environment, said: "This work follows complaints about the root damage late last year coupled with the results of our latest highway inspection.

This inspection highlighted a need to address the damage to the highway while maintaining the tree stock as far as possible in Stevens Road."