A SCHOOL has been served with an emergency order after workmen cut down 10 trees.

Oakmead College of Technology in Bournemouth is building an extension and the casualties included five mature oaks.

Independent councillor Ron Whittaker told the Echo: “It’s absolutely appalling.”

Bournemouth council has served an emergency tree preservation order on the whole school site.

The other trees cut down were two smaller oaks, two mature hollies and one hawthorn.

The college last year won permission to erect a two-storey education studio and a 13 metre high volleyball centre.

It does not need consent to cut down the trees but the council is unhappy with the felling and issued the protection order to prevent any more being cut down.

Cllr Whittaker said: “The landscape officer said it was done while they are building the extension.”

Cllr Whittaker, vice-chairman of the planning board, said the felling would be put on the agenda for tonight’s planning board meeting.

No one could be contacted for comment ahead of the new half-term starting yesterday.

The chairman of the planning board, Cllr David Kelsey, said: “We were extremely disappointed to learn of the actions at Oakmead College.

“Several of these trees were large maturing specimens of high visual and wildlife value, which formed part of an avenue of trees.”

A Forestry Commission spokesman said the college did not exceed the five cubic metre quarterly allowance that would have required a felling licence.

They said: “As a result we are not able to take any action against the owner, although we can understand that people have been saddened by the felling.”