15866/8THE western approach to Marlborough will be changed forever by the felling of the avenue of horse chestnut trees along the main road.

On Monday Marlborough town councillors were asked to give their approval to a planning application for the trees, owned by the College, in front of the Memorial Hall to be felled.

Councillors agreed to accept that the trees were becoming dangerous and needed to be felled, but expressed their regret that they could not have been saved.

Each spring the sight of the chestnuts in flower has greeted visitors arriving in Marlborough from the Beckhampton direction.

But old age and disease have made the trees dangerous and a number have shed large limbs on to the pavement and road during the winter.

Coun David Parker, town council planning committee chairman, told councillors at the meeting on Monday: "The reason for the trees having to be felled is that they are diseased and dangerous and have to be removed."

Coun Peter Cossey regretted that the trees were being taken down. He said: "They have reached the end of their lifespan."

On the same day as the town council meeting, contractors stepped in to start the felling operation while the College students were still on their Easter holidays.

The contractors used a hydraulic platform to cut down the trees log by log.

They were unable to fell the trees conventionally because of their proximity to the main A4 Bath Road and the iron railings recently put up along the College frontage.

The removal of the chestnut tree avenue started three weeks ago when Wiltshire County Council had a row of horse chestnuts on the opposite side of the road, in front of Barton Dene, cut down.

The trees on the north side of the road are the county council's responsibility and it does not require planning consent from Kennet District Council.

It is expected that the last few remaining horse chestnut trees that form the avenue along the western approach to the town will also have to be felled.

The trees are being replaced by another species, hornbeam, because it is feared that the honey fungus disease that has killed the mature specimens would also attack young chestnut trees.

A spokesman for the school confirmed that examination had revealed the trees to be diseased. "They were in poor condition and posed a threat," she said.