Residents in Hythe, Hampshire, have expressed outrage after their parish council ordered the felling of a much-loved Scots Pine tree in a seafront park. The tree, which had stood for years, was also featured on the logos of the local football club and the parish council itself.
The council cited a 'permanent decline' following an inspection in March as the reason for the removal. A six-foot stump remains, and plans are in place to replace the tree with a 'salt tolerant, flood tolerant, wind resistant Ulmus' as part of a 'New Horizon' project.
Local resident Garry Brown, 74, said: 'I'm heartbroken. Our view now comprises a couple of silos and a skyscraper. It's a bit like the Sycamore Gap. When a tree comes down it leaves a scar on the landscape.' Another resident, Tony Elliott, 80, added: 'I'm sorry the tree has gone - it provided a welcome break in a rather plain horizon.'
Parish councillor Mark Clark defended the decision, stating: 'The feeling in Hythe is not anger — it is grief... This is nothing like Sycamore Gap. That was an act of vandalism. This was an act of care — for public safety, for the community, and for the future of Prospect Place.' He confirmed that the remaining stump will be turned into a community sculpture.
Councillor Alex Wade acknowledged the tree's significance, saying: 'The tree held a special place in all our hearts... It's sad to see it finally removed, but it is, unfortunately, a necessary decision.'
