Huddersfield residents’ anger as ancient trees felled

Aug 21 2009 By Nick Lavigueur

Huddersfield residents’ anger as ancient trees felled

KIRKLEES Council has broken a promise not to chop down some 100-year-old trees, residents say.

Ten years ago the council felled a large number of old Sycamore trees at Syringa Street, Marsh, without warning.

The story featured in both the Examiner and on Calendar.

When residents complained, they were promised it would not happen again.

But on Wednesday, the final two original trees were felled, again without consultation or warning.

Resident Linda McGuin, who has lived on the street for more than 20 years, said its heritage had been ruined forever.

She said: “We opened our door one morning in 1999 and half the trees on the street had been chopped down.

“They finally started road improvement works a couple of weeks ago but nothing was mentioned about trees at all.

“On Wednesday morning I was horrified that most of the trees had been taken down.

“One on the corner had almost gone completely and higher up the street they were lopping all the branches off another.