GAZETTE & HERALD: Plans to fell a line of 22 poplar trees at Wiltshire College Chippenham have been described as deplorable by town councillors.

The college in Cocklebury Road has applied for a felling licence to chop down the row of trees, which are more than 30 years old.

The application was considered by Chippenham Town Council's planning and amenity committee last week, when members agreed to express strong objections to the proposal.

Coun Maureen Lloyd said: "These trees are between 30 and 40 years old. This is quite deplorable. There is no evidence of disease as far as I can see. Felling them would be detrimental to the landscape."

Coun Ross Henning said the felling would be vandalism.

But Ian Hibberd, estate manager for Wiltshire College Chippenham, said they wanted to fell the poplars purely for health and safety reasons because the trees had passed maturity and were causing problems because branches were falling off.

The poplars stand in a line on the boundary of the college sports field, next to the car park.

"The trees were planted too close together and we have a real health and safety issue," Mr Hibberd said.

"The trees were inspected by the Forestry Commission, which said they fully agree they could be a danger and they need to come down."

Mr Hibberd said poplar trees were very brittle and many branches had already dropped from them. The poplars also bear white flowers like cotton wool and local residents had been complaining about the mess these caused.

The poplars would be replaced by other more suitable native trees, such as hornbeam or plane.

North Wiltshire District Council has been asked for its views on the felling application, which will be decided by the Forestry Commission.