UNITED Utilities has apologised to a South Lakes woman for the “very short notice” it gave that trees on a road near her home were to be cut down.

The company commissioned the work on Old Road, Selside, near Kendal, so that water tanks could be transported to Watchgate Water Treatment Works unimpeded.

Wendy Chandler, of Watchgate, said the felling had affected local wildlife, and had left her feeling sick.

After raising her dissatisfaction with what had been done, Mrs Chandler had meetings with Steve Capstick and Kelly Barrow - project manager and customer delivery coordinator (North) with United Utilities respectively.

MORE TOP STORIES:

She also received a letter from Ms Barrow, dated 31 May 2019, which said: “United Utilities acknowledges that the very short notice you were given advising of the trees being felled was unacceptable and disappointing to say the least.

“We should have consulted with residents earlier and communicated more effectively, we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this caused you.

“I would like to assure you that should we need to undertake vegetation clearance on future projects we will endeavour where possible to provide necessary notification to our customers in a timely manner.”

The letter added: “I fully understand it has been very distressing to see most of the lane empty and United Utilities acknowledges there has been some loss of native wildlife since the trees were felled.

“However we are working with the landowner to agree a replacement planting scheme which we will implement later this year.”