A 100-YEAR-OLD tree in Westcliff is being chopped down by Southend Council, prompting the ire of a campaigning resident and a Tory councillor.

David Corroyer, of Southbourne Grove, has criticised Southend Council for its move to chop down the tree on the road after a branch fell off last week.

Mr Corroyer, 62, believes there is no need to completely remove the tree and it could have just been pruned, but the council insists signs of decay were found.

In an email to the council, Mr Corroyer said: “At least we had a notice pinned to the tree stating a branch had fallen off so the whole tree has to be removed, could it not have been simply pruned? Or is this just the excuse that is needed?”

Speaking to the Echo, he added: “The trouble is, they are quite happy to shop down a 100-year-old tree and replace it with lots of little twigs which in our lifetime will never grow to be anything like that.”

Prittlewell Tory councillor Kevin Buck has now intervened and asked for an “immediate temporary halt to the removal of this tree” so it can be determined whether removal is “the only viable prognosis”.

He also wants a visit to meet with residents in Westbourne Grove and Southbourne Grove to see “what devastation has been done over the last 20 years to these once beautiful tree-lined roads”.

Mr Buck also called for talks to develop a more “coherent, detailed and transparent strategy that everyone can be aware of”.

Carole Mulroney, councillor responsible for environment, said: “We will always look to retain trees and only remove a tree when necessary, such as in this instance when the tree has advanced decay, and only after an inspection. The council does not have a policy of removing all mature trees.

“A large branch fell from this tree last week, and a subsequent climbing inspection of the crown has found decay. The council has an obligation to manage its trees and consider the safety of users of the highway. When a tree is found to be in a declining and potentially unsafe condition, this unfortunately, means the tree has to be removed.”

She said the council had planted 641 trees this planting season and is committed to increasing the canopy cover by the size equivalent of 150 football pitches.