Cambridge campaigners see condemned trees spared the chop

The trees on St Matthews Piece are thought to be 125 years old

Campaigners have succeeded in saving three "magnificent" protected city centre trees.

An insurance company wanted to fell the 125-year-old plane trees in Cambridge, claiming they were affecting the foundations of a house.

But Cambridge City councillors voted unanimously to save them, saying their "special and outstanding contribution" outweighed the reasons to fell them.

The trees, in a conservation area, are protected by a preservation order.

The Friends of St Matthew's Piece was set up by conservationists and residents who live near the trees in the Petersfield area of the city.

Campaigner Dr Valerie Neal said the trees were "magnificent" and reached heights of between 25 and 30 metres (82 to 98ft).

Campaigners say it takes three people to circle the width of the tree

James Littlewood, from the conservation charity Cambridge Past, Present and Future, said: "It's one of the few green spaces in this area of Cambridge, it's really important to local people."

"If we can't protect these trees, which are so important to the local community, then that really places any other tree in our city under threat," he added.

In 2022, the city council initially received an application to reduce the height of the London planes by five metres. That was refused - and the insurance company came back with further information and asked for them to be felled.

Cambridge City Council's planning committee unanimously voted to refuse the application at a meeting on Wednesday.

In a statement, the authority said: "These trees are protected by a Tree Preservation Order and are also within a Conservation Area.

"Committee members extensively deliberated on the application and the evidence, concluding that the trees' special and outstanding contribution to amenity, outweighed the reasons put forward in support of the application and that the proposal was contrary to legislation, policy and guidance."

The insurance company's agent has been contacted for comment.