RESIDENTS have been left shocked after two poplar trees in a Chippenham park had to be cut down after they were pollarded and the chunks of wood were left blocking a path.

Marc Allum raised concerns two years ago that contractors employed by Wiltshire Council went too far when cutting the trees in Monkton Park, insisting that they had been left severely damaged as a result.

After returning home from holiday at the end of August, the 52-year-old was shocked to discover the mature trees had been cut down and their remains left strewn across the footpath.

Mr Allum, 52, who is an expert on BBC One programme Antiques Roadshow along with his wife, Lisa Lloyd, said: “I said you have pollarded them so brutally that you have killed them.

“One of them did die and the other one was just so badly damaged, that led to them being felled, once it’s dead it’s dead. I think it’s been handled really badly, they were very healthy trees, they were not rotten, hollowed out or diseased.

“I don’t have a problem for them to be pollarded properly but when you pollard to that extent you’re going to do serious damage.”

Pollarding is a pruning system in which the upper branches of a tree are removed to encourage growth of more foliage and branches and to ensure that any weak or unsafe branches that may fall are removed.

Councillor Chris Caswill, who represents Monkton ward, said: “I’ve had a complaint from a resident in Monkton Park who tried to walk on the path but they couldn’t get by.

“I agree with Marc, it’s negligent, two perfectly good trees have been killed and it’s just unacceptable.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “The contractors are clearing the felled trees to ensure the footpath is clear. We only carry out works on trees if they are found to be dying or have faults that could mean a risk of falling branches which present a risk to the public. These trees were in a condition where they did present a risk and needed immediate attention and so the decision was made to take them down.”