Fourteen mature trees along a road in Sale are due to be cut down, and residents have questioned the council’s decision making process.

There are large trees all of the way along Homelands Road, which runs between the A56 (Washway Road) and Walton Road, as well as a few smaller, younger saplings.

The larger, mature trees are due to be replaced by the council as part of a programme that will begin in the 2020-21 financial year, because they are causing “significant damage” to the road and nearby properties and blocking the footpath.

The trees are expected to be cut down and replaced with smaller, younger ones between November 2020 and February 2021.

According to a letter written to Homelands Road residents by Trafford Council’s tree officer for the area, the council consulted 43 properties before pushing ahead with its plans to fell the older trees.

Of those 43 households consulted, 24 replied and 17 of those said they were in favour of the scheme.

The letter said: “The responses show the majority of residents would like to see the scheme progress and I can therefore advise that the tree replacement scheme will be implemented.”

The note added that two trees along the road will be left untouched, while one on Briarlands Avenue will be removed and not replaced.

But residents and Green Party members are concerned that removing the mature trees and replacing them with young ones is not a like for like switch and they have called the council’s interpretation of a majority into question.

Twitter user Ed Dugdale shared a copy of the letter online and said: “Trafford Council, [I’m] not sure 17 out of 43 households constitutes a majority in favour of chopping down all the mature trees in our area?”

Green Party campaigner Owain Sutton replied on Twitter and said: “This is maddening and treats residents with such contempt!

“Coun Dan Jerrome has been doing a lot of work to push for changes to how council decisions about trees are made.”

Coun Jerrome, Green Party councillor for Altrincham and parliamentary candidate for Oldham West and Royton, then also replied to explain the benefits of mature trees over younger ones.

He said: “[Mature trees] are undervalued. The science also tells us their canopies support greater biodiversity, they absorb and block greater amounts of air pollution, they lock in more carbon and people love them (not all) but they create happiness and well-being and look great.”

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “A number of trees have been identified as causing significant damage to the highway and private properties.  The trees are also causing serious restriction to the footpath to wheelchair users and parents will buggies and prams.

“In view of this, all of the residents of Homelands Road have been consulted on the councils proposals to remove three trees and replant 14 new trees along Homelands Road.

“The new trees will be a mixture of species more suitable for this location. The planned felling work and replacement tree planting will commence in November 2020.”