A FAMILY in Burtonwood have been left furious and upset after being told to chop down their beautiful garden.

Warrington Borough Council sent a letter to the elderly owners of a Bakewell Road home demanding that their much-loved trees be cut back to prevent them from obstructing a nearby pavement.

A 14-day time limit was included in the letter, which was perceived as a threat and has angered the family.

Also causing upset was the loss of habitat for birds which regularly nested in the trees for the past 50 years.

The garden once the orders of the council were carried out

The garden once the orders of the council were carried out

Ian Howarth, the couple’s son, said: “I was just astounded. My parents are in their late 70s and the last thing they need is to start fighting with the council.

“They physically can’t cut them down themselves, although they do their best with them, so my brother had to do it for them, but they had to pay to have the cuttings and branches taken away.

“I don’t see why it’s a priority for the council given the situation we are currently in with a global pandemic.

“This is a place where neighbours watch the birds fly in and nest in the trees, and it was a bit of peaceful tranquillity which has now gone after 50 years.

The garden once the orders of the council were carried out

The garden once the orders of the council were carried out

“The conifers were well looked after and trimmed and didn’t block the walkway, and for someone sat at the council to basically give a near-80-year-old man a 14-day threat is an absolute disgrace.

“I’m furious. I find it totally disgraceful and my parents are upset as it has completely changed the landscape of their garden.

“The council sits there and destroys nature, and it’s very frustrating that they’ve took that peace and tranquillity away,”

Upon hearing the concerns, a Warrington Borough Council spokesman said: “When an issue like this is reported to us, a site visit is carried out and residents are written to advising them of their responsibility to maintain hedges and vegetation so they do not cause an obstruction.

The idyllic garden before the work was undertaken

The idyllic garden before the work was undertaken

“Due to the issues such overgrown vegetation causes, the letter does request action is taken within 14 days, and also provides a contact for the property owner to talk to if they have any queries.

“If property owners are unable to undertake the work, then we can do it and then charge them.

“In this case, we asked for the trees to be cut back so they do not obstruct the footpath, which would minimise any effect on wildlife habitats.

“We did not state that any trees needed fully removing which seems to be what has happened.”