Saving trees too pricey for council

South Cambs District Council’s planning committee has removed a tree preservation order for a 250 year old Cypress and Wellingtonia in the garden of The Old Rectory in Little Gransden.

Last year locals campaigned to save the trees and the council agreed to foot a £40,000 bill to underpin the house to prevent further root damage to the Grade II listed property.

On Wednesday the council decided to fell the trees because the estimated cost of underpinning the house had risen to more than £100,000.

Councillor Robert Turner, committee chairman, said: “It is always sad to see any significant tree cut down but it would have been wrong for us not to allow it to go ahead as taxpayers would have been at risk for the cost of compensating the homeowner.

“It is also important to remember that The Old Rectory is a magnificent historical building and no one would want to see it put at risk.”

The committee voted in favour of removing the tree preservation order by nine votes to three with one abstention. The trees will be replaced.