RESIDENTS in Slaughterford, in Chippenham, have raised a storm of protest over plans to cut down and thin protected trees at Dowding Paper Mill.

Developer Countryside Properties, from Bristol, has applied to North Wiltshire District Council for permission to fell the trees on the grounds they restrict access to the riverbank and damage building foundations.

It said it wants to remove dead material and manage the trees for health and safety reasons.

But the Slaughterford Action Group has raised fierce objections to the plans, and residents have already sent in 29 letters of protest.

The current tenant of the site, Carpenter Oak and Woodland, says the work is not needed for its use of the site and it feared the real reason for the felling is to prepare the site for housing development.

Objectors are concerned the reduction in tree cover would spoil the appearance of an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and could mean more chemicals leak into the By Brook.

But planning officers have recommended approving the plan and in a report to the development control committee warned members to consider if any loss or damage would arise if consent was refused or granted.

The developer wants to remove 15 sycamore and ash trees, and undertake tree surgery on a further 11 sycamore trees.

A number of ash and sycamore trees are growing out of the base of several of the stone buildings on the site and in an earlier report planning officers agreed a certain amount of tree work was needed to keep trees clear of buildings and vehicles.

The application will be considered by councillors on Wednesday in the Council Chamber, Monkton Park, Chippenham, at 7pm.