A GROUP of town councillors are appealing to Wiltshire Council to rethink plans to remove an ancient tree in the grounds of Melksham House.
The Lawson cypress tree, located near the entrance to the site, is one of two trees proposed to be cut down to make way for a wider road and new pathway for the Melksham Campus.
The planning application, which is currently under review, proposes the ‘replacement of trees removed where necessary from the parkland setting in front of Melksham House’, but councillors believe that the tree should be given a reprieve.
Cllr Tony Watts said, “The Lawson cypress is in need of tree surgery, but still has good life expectancy and is an important tree within the setting. It does not impinge upon Wiltshire Council’s redevelopment proposals and should therefore be retained if possible.”
Cllr Geoff Mitcham told Melksham News, “It’s part of the town’s history. It would be a shame to see it come down.”
At last month’s town council economic development and planning meeting, councillors resolved to task the town clerk, Linda Robers, with arranging an informal meeting with the Wiltshire Council campus project team to discuss retaining the Lawson cypress tree.
A decision for the campus planning application is expected this month. To view the application, visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ planning-new and search with the reference number: 19/03329/DP3
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