A SCHOOL has been urged to replace several mature trees which were felled in its grounds after incurring the wrath of Bournemouth planners.

The Oakmead College of Technology at Duck Lane came under fire after seven oaks, two hollies and a hawthorn were chopped down last month.

Planning board chairman Cllr Ron Whittaker accused the school of carrying out “a barbaric act of vandalism” and the council served a temporary Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on the school to prevent further damage.

It later emerged that work carried out to level the site was likely to have severely damaged the remaining trees which form part of a line near the school building, next to ongoing work on a school extension and volleyball court.

Addressing a planning board meeting on Monday, chairman Cllr David Kelsey described the college’s behaviour as “inexplicable.”

He told members he was “extremely disappointed” that the college had linked the approval for the school’s volleyball building with the tree felling.

Cllr Kelsey added: “These are two completely separate matters.

“We propose the college does the right thing and plant replacement trees if they really wish to demonstrate their commitment to their community and care for the environment.” In an earlier statement, college head Gill Blanshard said: “Officers inspected the site before granting us planning permission and, at no time, raised the issue of trees.

“If they had, we wouldn’t have touched them.”