Protests as railway trees cleared

Network Rail has been criticised over its decision to chop down dozens of trees near a line in Lincolnshire.

Some residents in Gainsborough said they were angry a three-quarter mile stretch of track side had been cleared.

They complained that losing the trees had made the area less attractive and much more noisy.

But Network Rail said the track side had not been properly tended to in 40 years and the trees could hit trains and obscure signals.

'Emotive issue'

Gillian Hirst, who lives on Jubilee Crescent in the town, said the work had made a big difference.

She said: "Angry doesn't even cover it. Two weeks ago outside our front window was a sea of green. We had all these trees in full leaf and it was lovely.

"Then they came bulldozing in and I asked them to save just one and they left that for a week before coming back and taking that one."

But Keith Lumley from Network Rail said safety was a pressing issue after two trees had come down on the track in high winds.

"We are damned if we do and damned if we don't. If we don't clear the trees and there is an accident, then we will clearly be held responsible.

"But in cutting the trees we have to deal with this very emotive issue. We do not do tasks like this lightly."