I WAS appalled to see trees being felled at Evening Hill this week, as reported in the Echo.

I was even more appalled to read the doublespeak from councillor Mark Anderson.

He said “we are undertaking work to restore the SSSI”. Restore the SSSI? Those holm oak trees were there long before SSSI was declared in 1996.

He also talked about “boosting access to nature and supporting our health and wellbeing”. How does felling oak trees boost our access to nature and support our health and wellbeing?

In addition, he said the trees “were a threat to the SSSI designation as they quickly spread”. Since when did we start cutting down trees in case they spread?

I was similarly appalled by the claims from councillor Mohan Iyengar. He said: “Everything being done there is to protect and enhance it as an open space.” That’s risible. You could say the same of the New Forest or Poole Park after you’ve felled the trees there.

He also said “the trees are not favoured by Natural England”. But we didn’t vote for Natural England, and Natural England didn’t vote for him. BCP council are answerable to us, not some unelected quango.

He went on to say that “we weren’t going to take any risks with cliff stability”. There were absolutely no risks with cliff stability.

He also claimed that “the trees being removed are dead or dying”. No they absolutely were not.

For the cherry on top, he said “when the Active Travel money came in we leapt at the chance for this work”. Now they’re chopping down our trees to promote active travel?

That’s absurd.

Please will somebody explain the meaning of Conservative and conservation to these councillors? Felling trees is not conservation.

JOHN DUFFIELD
Gleneagle Avenue, Poole