Peterborough: 600-year-old oak to be felled after homes damage

Houses have been built around the mature oak and concerns were raised about its roots putting properties at risk

An oak tree believed to be 600 years old is to be felled for safety reasons, an authority has confirmed.

Two homes in Ringwood, Bretton, have already been damaged by the ancient tree's roots, Peterborough City Council said.

The decision was made after a final independent assessment on the mature oak was published.

The council, which owns the tree, said it will plant 100 more oaks in a bid to "mitigate" the environmental impact.

• Campaigners vow to save 600-year-old Peterborough oak

• Decision on felling a 600-year-old Peterborough oak not reached

Councillor Nigel Simons, city council cabinet member for the environment, said: "This was a very difficult decision.

"What was certain to us was that if we didn't act quickly and swiftly, the council would be liable for the damage to one home - an underpinning bill of around £150,000.

"This would mean we wouldn't have any money to look after thousands of other trees in the city, or continue with our tree planting schedule, which has seen [more than] 3,300 new trees planted in Peterborough over the last planting season."

Peterborough City Council said felling would shortly resume while campaigners have vowed to stop it

Campaigners say the tree - which appears on the Woodland Trust Ancient Tree Register - is one of the last standing oaks from the original Grimeshaw Woods and dates from the 14th Century.

More than 2,500 people have signed an online petition calling for it to be saved.

Peterborough City Council said alternatives could cost them "hundreds of thousands of pounds" in repairs and legal fees

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