ANGRY residents have hit out at council bosses for removing trees from a public footpath.

And Coun Kate Hollern, the leader of the borough’s Labour Party, said the council’s ‘excuses’ for not replacing the plants were ‘nonsense’.

But council chiefs have said the trees were considered ‘dangerous’ and had to be removed from the path while work was being carried out.

A number of trees were removed from Rudyard Drive, in the Marsh House area of Darwen, in April last year and Coun Hollern said she had had several different residents approach her with con-cerns.

She said: “The council relaid the footpath in April last year but never replaced the plants as promised.

“I have now been told that they won't even be replacing the trees because of health and safety issues.

“But I am sure it’s absolute nonsense and people who live on Rudyard Drive are very disappointed about this.”

But council chiefs have said the ‘tree issue’ would soon be resolved.

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration and environment at Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “Before the footpath was relaid, some trees were removed because they were leaning and considered dangerous.

“It was intended to replant new trees.

“But unfortunately when the contractor returned to replant them, a number of service cables were discovered and there was insufficient space to get the trees’ root ball past them.

“The contractor has now been asked to consider another type of tree or alternative planting.”