Once again I note with despair our council's enthusiasm for removing trees to create barren open spaces, the latest example being along the Kendal canal pathway, presumably because of roots creating some ridging in the Tarmac.

It is sad that the council consider us unwilling to negotiate a few bumps and prefer our landscape flattened and tamed and our precious trees destroyed.

On this basis, any trees growing close to urban pathways cannot be tolerated so be warned - their days are numbered.

Celia Junor

Kendal

l The Westmorland Gazette contacted South Lakeland District Council, which owns the land and removed the trees, which gave the following response:

Regrettably the roots of two small trees on the edge of the public right of way had become a trip hazard and were damaging the surface of the cycle path, causing an additional hazard to cyclists.

Where public safety is an issue, careful consideration is always given and SLDC only removes trees as a last resort, where there is no viable alternative.

We will consider replanting trees nearby as part on an on-going programme which has already seen 2,500 new trees planted across the district over the last 18 months.