Eye residents band together against town council plan to fell trees in cemetery

A town council’s decision to cut down two trees in a Suffolk cemetery has caused a public outcry.

Eye Town Council voted to chop down a pair of leylandii trees in the cemetery due to potential damage to graves, headstones, pathways and other structures.

But the decision has not gone down well with residents, including Debra Houldey, who said the decision to fell the trees should be fully discussed with the town.

She said: “Myself and other concerned residents got more than 250 signatures on a petition to save the two leylandii trees.

“I handed it over to the council at the meeting on September 18 and asked if it would hold an open discussion with residents in regards to saving these trees.

“But some town councillors were not interested in public opinion and speaking to residents and they then voted to cut them down.”

Ms Houldey said she could not understand why the authority wanted to take out two established trees and replace them with saplings, which would take years to fully take root.

“I have been a resident of Eye for nearly 50 years and I am quite angry about this,” she said.

“The lack of communication and transparency has annoyed me the most. Though I have asked many times, no one can seemingly give me an explanation as to why they are doing this.

“Where is this going to stop? If they are going to take trees like this from the cemetery, how long is it before they take the big beech trees at the entrance, or some of the others?”

Cllr Tunie Brandon, mayor, said the council had first asked for a budget of £5,000 for tree works in September 2023.

“A contract was accepted in March from qualified tree surgeon Nick Bobby to do other tree work, as well as felling the two leylandii,” said the mayor.

“As the monies for tree works were pre-approved, the matter did not have to go to full council for a vote, yet it was agreed to do so for transparency.”

The council also set out its position on its Facebook page.

In a statement, it said: “Mature trees pose a risk of dropping large branches and they are susceptible to being uprooted in strong winds due to a shallow root system.

“The council plans to replace the leylandii with possibly hornbeam and field maple trees. We appreciate the passion some people have for the leylandii,, but it has been decided by the full council to fell the trees.”

No date has yet been set for the felling.