‘DEVASTATED’ Kingswinford residents are urging to Dudley Council to bring back their cherry trees after a number were cut down.

The council said they have removed ‘dead’ trees from Standhills Road during the past few weeks after a member of the public raised issues with overhanging branches.

It is claimed that the council found some of the cherry trees to be ‘diseased’ and have removed them to stop others in the road from becoming infected.

Alan Lunt, strategic director for the place directorate at Dudley Council, said: “We initially received a request for pruning work from a member of public due to overhanging branches in Standhills Road, Kingswinford, a couple of months ago.

“On inspection, officers found a number of dead trees in the road which are now being made safe by our experts.

“The work should be finished early this week.”

However, residents are said to be ‘very upset’ with the council for not replacing the cheery trees with those of a similar variety.

Alison Booth told the News: “The trees being cut down on Standhills Road has raised so much concern with local residents.

“When they are in blossom they are beautiful and it is devastating that we are seeing them go.

“Apparently the trees are diseased, but the council keep coming back and chopping more down. Surely they are not all diseased?”

On Facebook, Jo Collins posted a photo of the road last year when the trees were fully in bloom. She wrote: “Last year's beautiful view! Now minus four trees on the left and more further down. One of which was outside my house!

“So upsetting to see them go for apparently no reason. Do they look diseased to you?”

Kingswinford South Councillor Patrick Harley said the council is right to cut down the trees if they are diseased to save the others in the road.

He added: “What I would disagree with the council on is replacing them with different species of tree.

“In the spring time when the cherry trees are blossoming they make a quite delightful sight.

“But with each tree the council cuts down, it needs to replace it with a cherry tree which I don’t think they are doing.

“I’m no expert on species of trees, but residents have already said to me that the new trees are not the same, and if that is the case, the council need to reconsider.

“They need to replace them like for like. The young cherry trees may not be as big to begin with, but give it a few years and they will grow into something that would be much more beautiful.”