TREES felled in a South Yorkshire park have prompted an angry response from shocked residents - who say they were not kept informed.
Now Rotherham Council has stopped felling diseased trees in Dinnington Park after nearby residents said the first they knew about the plans was when contractors turned up with chainsaws.
Council bosses say around 60 letters were sent out warning people about the work - but now admit they didn't arrive on time.
Work has now been put on hold for several weeks while the council sends out more letters explaining why the trees are being chopped down.
But residents say the work should be scrapped altogether and a way found to treat the trees.
Roy Newman, who lives opposite the park, said: "By the time letters arrived saying the council were planning to fell some of the trees and prune some of the others contractors had already started work.
"We were just stunned. The park was part of the grounds of Dinnington Hall and some of these trees have been there two or three hundred years.
"If they are suffering from disease surely the council can find a way of treating them. It says they will be replaced by new ones, but they will probably be vandalised as soon as they are planted. There has been no consultation over this. The trees give a lot of pleasure to people and they will be very upset if they are chopped down. We are hoping the council will now think again."
Roger Gaynor, the council's trees and woodlands officer, apologised for the delay in informing residents but said it was vital safety work. He said: "Over 60 letters were hand-delivered on Friday but unfortunately this was after the contractors had started the work. We have now stopped the work for several weeks and will be sending out a second letter giving more detailed information as to why the work on the trees is necessary. We appreciate these trees - one elm, one maple, one copper beech and two common beeches - are an important part of the local landscape.
"However, we knew we would have to take action at some point because we have been aware for some years now that the health of all five was in decline due to heavy fungal infections that cause the trees to decay internally.
"In anticipation of this action, semi-mature trees were planted in the park to replace these five. The elm that has been removed was dead and the maple has a hazardous split in the main stem.
"The three beeches are all suffering from bad internal decay that could cause them to collapse and this cannot be risked in a public place."
READ MOREMore Rotherham newsThe full article contains 460 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
