'˜Ugly rotten fossils' '“ anger over plans to hack back trees

James Napper, 65, says he and his neighbours in Hetton’s Springwell Terrace got a letter this week saying the trees would be cut back.

He said the four poplar trees are about 100ft high and in good condition, but Gentoo says they need to be cut back for safety reasons as the branches have been falling on to cars.

Mr Napper is worried the trees will look like “20ft high stumps” – like others which have been cut back.

He said: “Gentoo seems to be systematically cutting down big trees in Hetton. The ones they have done in Hetton Downs look absolutely terrible. They look like big, ugly, rotten fossils, just 20-foot stumps. It is ruthless what they are doing.”

He said his neighbours are also angry about the plans.

He said: “We only got the letter this week, they are not giving us time to make objections.”

Mr Napper said he has contacted Sunderland City Council, but there are no preservation orders on the trees.

Michelle Meldrum, managing director of Gentoo Operations, said: “At Gentoo we have a responsibility to make sure our neighbourhoods are safe. With reference to these particular trees, branches have been falling on to cars and the public footpath and therefore we are undertaking work to alleviate this situation and improve the appearance.”