A family in Allington says the character of their street has been completely lost after five trees lining the pavement next to their home were felled ‘unnecessarily’.

The established trees which stood in Anerley Close were cut down after Kent County Council (KCC) found they were causing damage to the road and a footpath.

A sign attached to the trees appeared on December 8 notifying residents of the action but Paul Hopkins, who recently moved to the area with his wife Sarah and their two children, says he feels 'hoodwinked' by the lack of consultation.

The 38-year-old said: “The council claims the trees were damaging the footpaths and highways but there is no evidence as to how.

“The footpaths are a little bit bumpy but they were damaged more by the installation of the Virgin Fibre network and I feel that hasn’t been looked at as a possibility and so they were chopped down unnecessarily.”

He added: "When the felling notice was put up, it said there was a 14 day consultation period but no way to object was made clear.

“They know a lot of people won’t be going out in the pandemic and with the cold weather and I feel a little bit hoodwinked by it all.”

The first tree was felled on December 10 after a letter was put through residents' doors a week before.

The other four were pulled down on December 21 with only the stapled notices as warnings.

Cllr Dan Daley, the ward councillor for Allington, says while he sympathises with Mr Hopkins, on this occasion cutting the trees down was the only viable option.

He added: "Some trees in Anerley Close have been causing concern to residents where the roots have broken through the paving and also encroached onto private land.

"To rectify this would entail cutting through the roots of the tree and this would damage them and cause them to become unstable and therefore become a danger.

"Our policy is to never fell a healthy street tree if there is any other way of remedying whatever is seen to be the problem.

"It was with regret that we could find no way of dealing with the problem in the longer term than by felling."

The remaining stumps will be removed within three months and KCC has assured residents the trees will be replaced in the next planting season.

But Mr Hopkins, who felt the trees were a selling point of the close, feels small saplings will not have the same impact as they will take decades to become established.

A KCC spokesperson told Mr Hopkins they understood his disappointment but reassured him they will be replaced with Hawthorn trees which will need far less maintenance.

They promised to keep an eye on them, follow a special care plan and ensure they take well.

KCC was approached for further comment.

Read more: All the latest news from Maidstone