Decaying trees that are causing a "serious safety risk" in Welwyn Garden City are set to be felled next month.

Nineteen poplar trees along Lyles Lane have been identified for removal following a routine inspection, with the work taking place from Monday, November 6, to Friday, December 8.

The foot and cycle path will be closed for five weeks while the trees are felled.

The work is the final stage of the poplar felling along Lyles Lane, with 18 poplars removed last year and further trees felled in 2019, but Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council confirmed a replanting scheme will take place between December 2023 to February 2024, following the removal of the stumps.

The poplar trees were found to be in poor health, with many having damaged or broken limbs, and showing signs of decay or infection within the main stems.

"We have recently inspected the trees along the foot and cycle path and found that they are severely decayed," said Cllr Sandreni Bonfante, executive member for environment at WHBC. 

"This poses a serious safety risk and requires us to remove them as soon as possible.

"We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause to the users of the path, which will be closed for five weeks while we carry out the work. We are committed to replacing the trees with new ones in the next planting seasons."