The Diocese of Chester has insisted that the trees in Handbridge must be cut down as they are a danger to the public

LANDMARK trees must be cut down because they are ‘a danger to the public’ insist Chester Diocese.

Residents in Handbridge are campaigning to save the much-loved pine trees which line the road at St Mary’s Church, Handbridge, which could be cut down if a planning application to widen the driveway is approved.

But the Diocese of Chester have insisted that the four pine trees must be cut down after receiving advice that the trees could fall down in high winds.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Chester said: “We have received professional advice that the four pine trees by St Mary-Without-The-Walls Church, Handbridge, are vulnerable to high winds because of their particular location and also because the nature of the soil in which they stand.

“They would be unlikely to last for many more years in any case, and could present a danger to the public.”

The Diocese said that the four trees must be removed so that work to create a disabled parking space and widen the drive at the church can begin if Cheshire West and Chester approve a planning application currently being put forward.

“Previously our disabled parking spaces were by the old rectory, but that is currently being sold for private use so that public parking space will eventually become unavailable there.

“We are committed as a diocese to provision for the disabled and to caring for the environment, which is why we need to create new disabled parking spaces close to the church, and why we also propose to plant five new trees closer to the church to replace the four trees.”

Residents wishing to comment on the planning application to widen the road and provide two disabled parking spaces at the rectory have until September 13 to do so. To view the application visit the CWaC website using application number 11/03006/FUL.