A COUNCIL has sparked anger by cutting down two 70ft trees – after a single complaint by a neighbour.
Bristol City Council took down the enormous cypress trees despite a sit-in protest and a campaign by local families.
The trees were given an Anti-Social Behaviour Order and classified as 'hedges' – in a move mocked as 'ridiculous' by locals residents.
The trees have sat in a quiet cul-de-sac in Horfield in Bristol for 50 years and were popular with kids and wildlife including birds and squirrels.
But Bristol City Council slapped them with a felling notice which has been pinned to one of the trees – classing them as a "nuisance".
They have now been chopped down.
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Locals say there was one complaint about the trees – by someone who said they blocked their light.
Speaking when they trees were served notice, a Bristol City Council spokesperson said: "The action being taken is not a matter of council policy.
"But it is to ensure compliance with national legislation, which designates this type of tree as a hedge.
"We are responding to a complaint about the hedge, in line with the legislation, and have reviewed the options available to us.
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"Reducing these trees to the necessary size would leave them unlikely to survive and removing and replanting the tree has been agreed as the best option.
"We have received a number of comments from local residents supporting this approach.
"We're also investigating and offering further tree-planting spots to bring us closer to our aim of doubling the city's tree canopy by 2046.''
One resident said: ''It's bonkers. Everybody is really sad about it."
"It's a real shame, because those trees have been there since the early 1970s, at the same time as the estate was built.''
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