CONTROVERSIAL plans to remove trees outside Accrington town hall have been met with concerns from residents.

Proposals have been submitted to Hyndburn Council for the removal of trees in front of the town hall and market hall in Blackburn Road.

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Concerned resident Casee Leigh, who lives nearby, criticised the plans and said the trees had ‘historic importance’ to the town.

The 34-year-old mum-of-two said: “The trees have always been there for years. They’re part of Accrington’s history. They’ve been here longer than me.

“This will be an area of blandness and nothingness. It will just destroy the whole character of that area.

“It used to be beautiful and so busy when I was a child.

“The council needs to do more than literally pave over the problems.”

The design and access statement accompanying the plans state a key element of the newly designed town square is to ‘deliver an exciting and challenging public realm scheme to create a new town square that commemorates the sacrifice made by the Accrington Pals in the First World War’.

There is a total of 13 trees in the area that could be affected if proposals go ahead including two large horse chestnuts trees.

Plans for the town square if the trees are removed include six duckboard benches honouring the history of the Accrington Pals, and three small sculptures paying tribute to the Pals battalion and Accrington Stanley.

Evonne Harwood, who runs the Pink Magpie Vintage Emporium in Whalley Street, has said that removing trees to redevelop the town centre is a good thing.

She said: “They need to go, that’s the best thing for the management of the building.

“They’re beginning to cause damage to the market and I’m sure it will all look very nice when it’s finished.”

“They’re too big, they should never have been planted there, they should be in parks. It’s about moving forward not backward.”

The trees were planted in 1962. Other plans for the new pedestrianised square include landscaping and improved street lighting.

New trees would then be planted to the side of the market hall and in other areas across the borough.

Cllr Peter Britcliffe who represents the St Andrews Ward on the council, believes that it is vital that the council take the public opinion into account before making a decision.He said: “It would be quite aesthetically pleasing to see the front of the market hall without the trees, however they are rather majestic trees. “What the council needs to do is consult with the public and listen to them.”

“I can understand why some people want them gone but I can always understand why they should stay.”

Anyone wanting to send comments should e-mail planning@hyndburnbc.gov.uk and proposals will go before the council’s planning committee on February 1.