Angry residents have protested against the felling of what they think is a protected tree as part a newly-completed £1 million housing project.
Sarah Davidson, plus neighbours Norma Alari, Alistair Syme and Mary Wales, who live in Cupar’s West Port, gathered with banners outside the Kingdom Housing Association development in Cupar’s town centre.
They are angry after a mature robina pseudoacacia tree, thought to be at least 120 years old, was sawn down “out of the blue” by Fife Council contractors at 8am on Sunday.
Mrs Davidson, a member of local environmental charity Sustainable Cupar, said she understood the tree roots had been damaged more than 18 months ago when contractors were digging a trench for the housing development, next to the facade of the former Bell Baxter High School on West Port.
However, the residents had been assured by the landscaper and tree surgeons that it was protected by a tree preservation order.
In a letter to Fife Council, the residents said: “(On Sunday) attempts were made by the West Port residents to communicate with the contractors.
“Eventually, feedback was given by them that Fife Council had sanctioned the felling of the tree, even though the tree surgeons had advised that cutting back the dead wood would have been an option.
“The contractors also advised us that the trees had had a preservation order on them two years ago but the one being felled was now seen as a ‘health and safety risk’.
“The contractors ignored our repeated pleas to stop the felling but when they had removed most of the tree’s canopy, one of the workers informed us that we could have phoned the council to have the work stopped.
“This was duly done but with no success as it was a Sunday and the relevant person was unavailable. Why was a Sunday morning chosen, as opposed to a weekday, when Fife Council offices would have been contactable?
“We also want an explanation of why a trench was dug through the roots of this veteran tree in February 2012.
“In 2011, Joanne Brindley (landscaper for the site) advised Sarah Davidson that the mature robinia trees would remain on the Bell Baxter site and at that point (we were) informed there was a preservation order on the two trees.”
Lorraine Evans, professional assistant (trees) for the council, said: “Neither of the two trees in question were protected by a tree preservation order.
“Only one of these trees has been removed and there is no intention to remove the other.
“Prior to any work taking place, both trees were inspected by an independent arborist, who advised that one tree was in very poor condition and the council should seriously consider its removal.
She added: “The decision to remove a prominent tree is always a difficult one but the decision was based on an independent arborist’s advice.”