A MASS felling of conifers and other trees in a Ledbury beauty spot has strongly divided opinion, with some residents welcoming the possibility of a new town centre car park and with Ledbury in Bloom keen to launch a new planting programme at the location.

Other residents felt the felling of eight tall confers and a number of smaller trees at Queen's Walk, one of the gateway entrances to Ledbury Recreation Ground was a regrettable mistake.

Posting on the Ledbury Reporter Facebook site, local resident Christine Ree said: "Sorry, but I think what they have done is awful; if they had been maintained they would have been ok; all that habitat for the nesting birds has gone.

"It looks so bare now, so no I don't think they should have done it."

Clive Gunn, chairman of Ledbury in Bloom, is far more positive and sees the work as the chance to enhance the public open space.

He said: "In the short term the extra light and air that will flood in to Queen's Walk will benefit all our planting in the beds opposite. In the future we will be very happy to assist in the replanting and maintenance of the new area.

"The intention is to clear the site as well as possible in the first instance and soil it over then seed it. The mass of tree roots prevents any swift replanting but the extent of the project will become apparent as they dig down. The water table is likely to be affected by the removal of so many trees."

He added: "The iron fence that is now beautifully exposed will need a lot of love and attention and is almost a project in itself."

But the fence will not be a project for Ledbury in Bloom's small band of volunteers, and community help for that is being sought.

Mr Gunn said:"We don't have the manpower to tackle that; would someone like to take it on?"

Queen's Walk is owned by Herefordshire Council, and a spokesman said of the work: "The conifer trees in the park were removed by a private contractor following concerns about their suitability for that site. The trees were not subject to a Tree Preservation Order or of high amenity value.

“Herefordshire Council is happy to work with community groups to discuss whether replacement trees should be planted and where they might be best located."

The idea of replacing the conifers with more suitable trees has been welcomed by town councillor, Bob Barnes, who added that, in his view, the conifers, up to 40ft in height, were in "a dangerous and unkempt position".

And another town councillor, Harrison Wilce, vice-chairman of the town's environment and leisure committee believes an opportunity for a new, much-needed town centre car park may have been created.

He said: "The trees needed ripping down. They took all the light away from the area and the area would be much better put to use as parking for users of the recreation ground."

But some Ledbury residents are very much opposed to this idea.

Gary Williams said of the tree felling: " I think it’s a shame, and I’m surprised people would prefer to see the area turned into something sterile like car parking spaces.

"As a society we have already sacrificed far too much to the great god car. We need to wean ourselves off our unhealthy addiction to unfettered personal mobility."