Plans to axe more than 50 trees and cut back up to 70 more on one of Witham's housing estates has been condemned as ''a tragedy".

The work will see 118 trees on the town's Templars estate targeted in the next 12 months - followed by more in later years.

"It will destroy the shade and visual amenity on the estate," claims James Abbott, one of Braintree's Green district councillors. He is asking officials to think again before the work starts.

"I have doubts as to whether any real consultation has taken place between the council and residents," he said.

But Braintree Council's tree expert, Melvyne Crow, insists the work is vital to protect houses, walls and footpaths."We have inspected about 300 trees on the estate and identified those which are either posing a threat to houses or are breaking up pavements,'' he said.

"The budget to carry out the work was approved last week and we will be undertaking a process of replanting and environmental improvement of the estate.

''The overall result will be a positive improvement for residents.".

Mr Crow said the trees, which went in 25 years ago when the estate was built, were planted according to landscaping practice at the time.

''The situation was dramatically worsened by the severe drought in the mid-70s and subsequent droughts,'' he said.

Resident, Mrs Sandra Bruton, of Court 20, where two trees inside the court and three outside her home have all been identified as posing an immediate risk, is unhappy about the plan.

"It would be a real tragedy," she says. "and no-one has asked me about it."

But Cllr Bob Evans, chairman of Braintree's area planning committee, and Witham town councillor for Templars, says: "The survey of the trees was carried out because of the number of complaints we received from tenants about the threat to homes and break-up of pavements and play area.

"I am a tree warden and love trees, but the fact is when these were planted, although carried out for the right reasons to soften the area, little thought was given to their location or the type of trees being planted.

"The result now is that tenants have every right to bring concerns about their houses to us and the council has to act responsibly to avert the risks which have been raised."

Picture, top: James Abbott standing next to trees which face the axe in Conrad Road on the Templars Estate in Witham.

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