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Fury as trees are cut
RESIDENTS have spoken of their shock after five landmark trees were cut down at the entrance to a Chorley primary school.
The trees have stood outside Duke Street Primary School for almost 40 years but Chorley Borough Council workers moved in with chainsaws to chop them down.
Lancashire County Council say the trees posed a risk to a nearby school wall but insist the final decision to cut them down was taken by Chorley Borough Council.
People living on Duke Street have condemned the tree felling and say it has ruined their street.
Heather Berry, 47, said: "I'm absolutely disgusted with what they have done. I couldn't believe it when I saw them cutting the trees down. I think they should replace them because they used to add to the aesthetic value of the street.
"I used to go to Duke Street School and I remember the trees when they were first planted. All the neighbours are doing their best to improve the area and it's a disgrace to see the trees have been cut."
Near-neighbour Ashley Parker, 29, said: "The trees were very nice and they were always in bloom in spring.
"I can't believe this has happened and it's very sad. We were not even notified that they would cut them down and the street looks so bare without them."
Ed Cookson, who is in his 50s, said: "Why could they not move the wall back two inches?
"When it comes to trees a lot of councils cut them down first and ask questions later but they do not seem to realise that trees actually enhance the street scene."
Anne Joyce, 58, said: "We have lived here since 1969 and the trees have been here all this time. They made the street look very nice and it's disappointing to see they have been taken down. I can't see why they needed to be cut down."
A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "The trees were taken down because they were a risk to an adjacent wall on the edge of the school property. A suggestion was made by the county council, however a final decision was made by Chorley Council."
A Chorley Council spokesperson said: "Following a recommendation from Lancashire County Council, we removed the trees to protect the school's boundary wall from further damage."
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Weather for Chorley
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
