A TREE expert, who is one of Welwyn Hatfield Council’s own voluntary wardens, has attacked the authority’s record on cutting down trees in the borough.

Reacting to the felling of five poplars on Peartree green, off Knella Road, WGC, and an oak tree in Briars Lane, Hatfield, Martin Waldock slammed the move.

Mr Waldock, who lives in the Gannetts area of WGC, branded the felling of trees “health and safety nonsense” and said methods employed in other areas such as concreting the base of trees, meaning they would not need to be chopped down, had not been used.

He also described a row of trees that were felled as “previous victims” and said the reasons for them being chopped down were “cobblers”.

But the council defended its arboreal policy and a spokesman said: “The council only removes trees that are diseased or damaged.

“The trees are monitored on a regular basis and removals are only carried out as a last resort.”