I DISAGREE with Mike Slater, assistant director of planning at City of York Council, that the case to fell the two beech trees at Connaught Court was clear-cut because of safety concerns (Letters, October 7).

The council's own independent tree expert stated that the trees were "in a sound and healthy condition with no signs of any major structural problems" and that they "still have a safe useful life expectancy in excess of 50 years".

Why then did the council give priority to a report commissioned by the development planners, especially since their report seems to jump to the conclusion that the trees are "in decline" based on very little evidence?

Indeed, inspection of the cut trunk and branches after felling shows that both trees were incredibly healthy and sound.

Is it just coincidence that felling consent was granted less than a month before a planning application was submitted?

The two trees would have been in the way of the proposed new road and block of flats included in the plans.

Perhaps this explains why the development planners wanted the trees removed so quickly.

Peter Miller,

St Oswald's Road,

Fulford, York.

Updated: 09:30 Tuesday, October 12, 2004