RESIDENTS are angry that a frieze of trees along the Leeds-Liverpool canal - a haven for wildlife - has been felled.

Instead of looking out across the cut onto a screen of willows, people living in Weavers Court, Skipton, have been left with an "eyesore" of ugly red bricks, tree stumps and other wood debris.

The trees were felled on the order of Merritt & Fryers following permission from Craven district council which ruled they were not suitable for tree preservation orders.

But residents are angry that Craven failed to consult them properly and so reach a compromise about which trees would be suitable to go, they claim.

The work, which took place over several days on the site near where Candelista is converting a Firth mill into apartments, saw large chunks of timber and small logs tumbling into the canal.

North Yorkshire County Councillor Councillor Andy Solloway, said: "I believe the consultation process wasn't sufficient. I realise it happened at a difficult time - over Christmas - but residents weren't given a chance to have their say. I don't think it was spread wide enough.

"I also have some criticism of the way it was done. There were branches and pieces of timber floating all over the canal."

Maurice Wyper, who has lived in Weavers Court for 15 years, said: "Where once we had a beautiful screen of trees we have an eyesore. We're overlooking a crumbling red brick wall and a forest of tree stumps .

"Why weren't we consulted? There were a lot of questions to ask before someone ripped the place apart.

"I think at least a screen of some nature needs to be put up to at least improve on what has been left behind."

His neighbour, Geoffrey Simpson, said they were completely unaware of the application until a person appeared with a chainsaw at end February.

"There was no consultation with neighbours by either Merritt and Fryers or Craven council. There was no structural engineer's report on the condition of Merritt & Fryers property and why it was so important to remove these trees.

"There was no consideration made to try to trim the trees and cut out unhealthy parts rather than cut them down completely."

Merritt & Fryers, Rachel Fryers, said planning rules had been followed in good faith and she did not expect the work to have sparked such opposition.

The company had planned to remove the tress some time ago because the roots were undermining and damaging the yard and dislodging the wall.

A tree specialist had been employed and one of the trees was found to be dangerous and to have a rotten core and there was fear it could fall across the canal in high winds. It was felt an appropriate time to remove other self seeding trees.

"We will now have to look at what is appropriate for the long term. The last thing we wanted to do was upset people. We have been in business in Skipton 80 years and we are disappointed the work has had such a reaction," she said.

A spokesman for Craven District Council, said: “Having inspected the trees and assessed them it was determined that they did not meet the necessary criteria for making a TPO.

“The Council do not carry out neighbour notifications. The loss of a view is not a material consideration. In this case the assessment was whether the trees were worthy of a TPO, and our Trees Officer reached the decision that they were not.”