Felling of healthy trees believed to cost £175k

The cost of cutting down three healthy trees will be at least £175,000, including a compensation payment to a homeowner, according to a councillor.

Despite campaigns against the felling, three lime trees were removed on Trelawney Road in Falmouth, Cornwall, due to the roots causing damage to the pavement, road and a nearby property.

It was revealed the council had entered into an out-of-court settlement with the owners of a neighbouring property costing £107,000, a figure which the authority had not denied.

Its highway service spent £45,502.44 on the work, according to monitoring officer Paul Grant. Falmouth town councillor, David Saunby, believes the final costs will be more than £175,000.

The highways figure included traffic management, fencing and welfare at £5,685.10, tree removal and stump grinding at £7,790.94, site security at £24,712 and ecology costs of £7,314.40. It does not include payments to Devon and Cornwall Police and Cormac.

Saunby said the figure did not include the replanting of new trees and planting build-outs.

"I was quite shocked at the cost of security on the final day of £24,000," Saunby said.

"After all, it is public money. Some of the personnel came from as far as Yorkshire, having spoken to some of the security on the morning of the felling."

Three previous attempts to fell the trees also cost the council £15,500.

Cornwall Council has been approached for comment.

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