Residents in part of Burnham-On-Sea have this week hit out at the district council for ‘butchering’ scores of trees – even though the council has defended its work as ‘good arboricultural practice’.
Several residents living around Worston Lane have contacted Burnham-On-Sea.com after Sedgemoor’s tree cutting team cut back a line of roadside trees to unsightly stumps.
“Instead of a few minutes trimming, the council’s tree specialists have chopped the trees to stumps, making it look like the day after some dreadful forest fire,” said one resident.
“I have complained directly to the council and they have basically told us that ‘tough, it’s our trees and we can do what we like’.”
But Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The trees belong to Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor carries out the work on their behalf with qualified tree surgeons.”
“It is recognised good arboricultural practice to pollard the trees on a three-to-five year cycle to maintain good tree health and growth. Now is the time of year to do this type of work.”
“Last year, there were complaints from local residents about pollen from trees on the cars. Within the next couple of weeks, there will be green shoots on the pollarded trees. By the end of the summer, there will be between 3 and 5 feet growth on the trees.”
Pictured, top, before and after photos of the trees in Worston Lane and, above, the council tree experts at work
