Ampthill residents describe tree felling as 'criminal'

The council said removing the trees will help with safety and drainage

Residents have described the removal of trees between their homes and an industrial estate as "criminal".

People in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, spoke of their shock at the felling of numerous trees by the A507 bypass.

They said the trees had screened the town from the Midland Mainline and an industrial estate - including factory units, car workshops and a scrapyard.

Central Bedfordshire Council said the trees were being felled for "safety reasons" and to help with drainage.

Residents want new trees or panelling to help with the view and reduce noise

On 27 October, Central Bedfordshire Council wrote to residents living near the bypass to inform them they would be removing trees and starting drainage works in the area.

Locals believed only self-set trees would be cut down.

But when work commenced on Monday, they found large conifers, which were at least 30 years old, had also been felled.

Samantha Blake, who lives in the area, said the trees had helped block noise pollution from the industrial estate.

She said: "On the environment it is absolutely criminal what they're doing here.

"Before we were looking at trees - and now we're looking at graffitied metal fencing."

Samantha Blake said she was worried the trees in a children's play area would soon be "massacred"

The council said they would not be pausing the work, despite requests from residents.

In a statement it said the felling was for both safety reasons and to protect highway infrastructure.

The authority said the trees had established themselves on the sides of a drainage ditch and risked falling into the road.

"The work will also improve water flow in the drainage system, reduce flood risks and allow us to fix road subsidence that has occurred," the council said.

Part of the A507 would remain closed until 13 December as work continued, it said.