A historic cherry tree was uprooted and destroyed by workers building new bridges in Alyth.
The tree was planted by local children in 1953 to commemorate the Queen’s coronation.
It was presented to the town by the then Alyth Business and Merchants’ Association.
But the 70-year-old landmark has been removed by contractors working on new bridges to replace the ones swept away in floods two years ago.
Perth and Kinross Council said the tree was too old to be retained, but has pledged to plant a new one elsewhere in the town.
Community councillor Amanda Blakeman described the tree as “beautiful” and “irreplaceable”.
She said: “We don’t recollect the potential for the removal of trees alongside the burn ever being part of the consultation process.
“Had we understood how the positioning of the new bridge would impact on the existing treescape people may have proposed alternative sites for the replacement bridges.”
Strathmore councillor Dennis Melloy said: “Local people advised me that during excavation work for the new bridge below Toutie Street, a flowering cherry tree was uprooted and destroyed.
“On contacting the council about this, I was advised that the cherry tree had to be removed as it was situated within the area where the new disabled ramp is located for the replacement footbridge.”
He said: “I fully understand that the cherry tree would have to be removed, but I would have expected that the tree would have been replanted further along the burn, not destroyed.”
A spokesman for the local authority said: “Perth and Kinross Council removed the cherry tree in Alyth to facilitate the construction of a disabled ramp for one of the new footbridges.
“A cherry tree of this age and size could not be transplanted to another location, as it wouldn’t have survived the move.”
He said: “A new cherry tree will be planted alongside Pitnacree Street, with the exact location still to be agreed.”
Shopkeepers have said their trade had been hit by the new bridge work, which started last month.