A ROSS-on-Wye resident has called for action to be taken after what he described as a "harmful attack on trees."

Trees were cut down on land opposite Metcalfe Close in Ross-on-Wye and next to Ross Health and Fitness by private contractors for Herefordshire Council.

The council said that a tree survey was undertaken which determined that several were unsafe and required removal and that once on site, several other trees were found to be in a poor condition and were also removed.

Speaking at a Ross Town Council meeting resident Robert Taylor said: "Some action should be taken against the perpetrators of what is a really harmful attack on trees in Ross."

He said he used to be a parks superintendent in central London and he was responsible for hundreds of large trees.

Mr Taylor added: "I am alarmed by the damage which has been done where the trees were removed. Any tree over 75mm wide is protected within a conservation area even though there might not be a tree preservation order.

"All major works have to go before a planning committee but there is an exemption if a tree is highly dangerous, and if there is a serious harm risk there will be a 211 order."

He said he walks through there and has never thought the trees were dangerous.

Mr Taylor said: "For them to say the trees were dangerous in any shape of form, someone somewhere must have fabricated a story to get them to issue a permit to fell those trees. They have made a complete mess down there in that area."

He also said under the Town and Country Planning Act trees have to be replaced.

Councillor Caroline Utting said the town council's planning committee had looked into it and would carry out further investigations.

She said a private business carried out the work on behalf of Herefordshire Council.

Cllr Richard Mayo said he would speak to the council about the works.