Residents in Bromsgrove are "disgusted" after finding out a 150-year-old tree is amongst hundreds being cut down as part of ongoing work on the A38.
The poplar tree on Stratford Road had a 'stay of execution' on Thursday (March 28) after it was set to be cut down as part of the A38 BREP along with an elm tree that was one of only two to survive Dutch elm disease in the 1970s.
Although the tree has survived for now, residents have also expressed their anger at the hundreds of trees that have already been cut down as part of the scheme to make way for new cycle and walkways.
Resident Debbie Leighton, aged 62, said: "The residents are so angry and disgusted at the number of trees that have been lost. We knew a few were going to be lost, but I went down the other day and counted 273 trees.
"We were told that the poplar tree is a danger to drivers who could hit it. One resident has lived on the estate for more than 30 years and she has never had a problem. There have been other trees lost along Buntsford and it is just damaging the environment.
"I can't believe what they've done. I used to be able to see greenery from my house and now I can see all the way down the Bromsgrove Highway. The problem is decisions shouldn't be made by those who don't have to live in the area."
Ms Leighton and fellow residents have also raised concerns over the risk of flooding caused by the lack of trees as well as the loss of the sound barrier.
Worcestershire County Council has said they will replace the trees on a two-for-one basis and install bird and bat boxes, but Ms Leighton has questioned the need for new cycle lanes along the A38 in the first place.
Read More: Resident outrage as trees cut down along A38
She said: "There is just no justification for cutting the trees down. We have had investments in cycling routes and marking over the years including in Blackwood Road. It feels like a waste of money to then invest in areas people won't use.
"We've previously raised concerns over the BREP work but the trees have tipped us over the edge. We're not going to shut up about it.
"Sometimes it isn't until it's on your doorstep that you realise the impact it has had. We just want the county council to stop cutting down trees and to reconsider the BREP plans."
In response, a spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said the A38 suffers from high levels of congestion and if it is not tackled, it is set to "worsen stifling economic growth and potentially lead to tail-backs on the motorway."
They added: "The A38 is seen as a barrier to many pedestrians and cyclists wishing to make journeys between the town centre and schools to the west and residential properties, schools and the station to the east.
"To address these issues a series of junction capacity improvements was proposed together with plans to improve infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. These proposals went through a rigorous assessment process and, following a public engagement process, were approved by Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet and the Department for Transport.”
The county council also said the removal of trees and vegetation will be kept to a minimum and replaced on a two-for-one basis as close as possible to the area from where they are removed.
They said noise modelling was undertaken for the scheme and "noise barriers will be installed at locations where noise levels would otherwise be predicted to increase significantly".
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