Residents have expressed concerns after learning a number of trees are set to be cut down in a Marlow conservation area. 

An assessment carried out by South Bucks Tree Surgeons in January found several dying trees in Claremont Gardens are at risk of collapsing onto pedestrians or houses and are proposing that they are removed. 

Plans submitted to Buckinghamshire Council include felling and grinding several trees and cutting back branches from the footpath and roadway.

The residential area of Claremont Road is a conservation area, marking a spot of special historical and architectural interest.

The project would take an estimated three to four days and use pole saws and a chipper truck.

Environmental Concerns

Marlow resident Adela Louise expressed concern over what Transport for Bucks would replace the dying trees with.

She said: "Anyone who has lived in Marlow a few years and travelled along Claremont Road will know how beautiful it looks when the tree blossom is out.

"I've been sad to see that when trees have had to be removed, the area they were in has just had tarmac put over it."

Cabinet Minister for Transport, Steven Broadbent, said the council understood concerns about the impact of tree felling on the environment. 

He added that the reason for the works going ahead was primarily due to the trees posing "a safety concern". 

Mr Broadbent said: "Once all the required criteria have been met and we have decided on dates for the work to commence, we will consider all available options to mitigate the effects of the tree felling.

"We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously."

READ MORE: EVERY planning application submitted to Bucks council this week

Releaf Marlow

A spokesperson from Releaf Marlow declined to comment on the upcoming works but said: "It is always sad to see trees being removed from Marlow's streets."

The project, backed by Transition Town Marlow and the Town Council, aims to increase the number of urban trees in the area. 

On Releaf Marlow's website, the community group pledge to: "Encourage wildlife and absorb air pollution."

The site also reads: "Planting trees is an important response to climate change because they take up carbon from the atmosphere and provide shade and cooling in the summer."

In an ongoing campaign, Releaf Marlow has obtained funding from Bucks Council to plant trees in several locations around Marlow.

Upcoming tree planting events can be found on the project's Facebook page.

Readers can click here to learn more about the Free Family Trees scheme, which encourages residents to plant new species in their gardens.