Hundreds sign petition against tree felling

Residents said they were amazed with the level of support the petition had received

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition to save trees from the chop on a residential street.

Westmorland and Furness Council sent letters in March saying it intended to fell 19 trees on Infield Park, Barrow, for "public safety", over concerns about the state of uneven pavements.

Residents said they were "amazed" by the level of support they had received.

A spokesman for Save Infield Park Trees said people valued "trees and the wildlife they support".

The council previously agreed to pause its plans until January after concerns were raised and said it would engage with residents to discuss options, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Residents said they were keen to work with the council's highways department to come up with a "viable solution", but felt the council was "trying to exclude" the public from the consultation process.

The council told residents it wanted to fell 19 trees

However, the authority said it was committed to engaging with the community before making any decision on the next steps.

The Save Infield Park Trees group said it had commissioned an arboriculturist report which concluded the proposed felling of the trees was an "overreaction" and "unjustified".

The group said: "Infield Park is a cul-de-sac with very little footfall, evidenced by the undisturbed moss growing on the pavements."

A council spokesman said the authority was "currently exploring viable options".

"It is important to us that we find the right balance between ensuring public safety and protecting the character of the streetscape," they said.