THE cutting down of two mature walnut trees that stood on the site of the proposed Okehampton East Business Park came under fire this week.

The two trees, thought to be at least 40 to 50 years old, stood on the proposed site for the new business park, located to the east of the town. The two trees were cut down last week ahead of site preparation work getting the go-ahead.

Creating a range of commercial premises along with the creation of around 150 jobs, the aspiration is for the site to facilitate a suitable space for the creation of high quality business premises.

Chair of Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council Derek Webber said his members had objected to the trees being cut down around three years ago when they were asked for their opinion on the development of the site.

Mr Webber said: 'It is a crying shame to lose two trees that have stood there for such a long time.

'It makes me think back to the development of Monkey Puzzle Drive, where the Monkey Puzzle tree that stands there was saved and built around, because we objected to it.

'The trees have been there a long time and I am sure they could have been planned around. Nothing's impossible. The M62 went round a house to save it, so I'm sure they could have been saved.'

Cllr Kevin Ball, county councillor for Okehampton Rural, defended the decision to cut down the two trees.

'It is a shame to see the trees go and I did have discussions with the county council to see if there was any way to save both or even one of these walnut trees. Unfortunately it was unavoidable.

'However, as part of the whole business park scheme, for every one tree that has to be cut down, Devon County Council will be planting five trees.

'On top of that, I've convinced the county council to also plant two walnut trees to replace the two which have been lost.'

Cllr Ball acknowledged the suggestion that the walnut trees could be saved, much like the puzzle tree on Monkey Puzzle Drive.

But he said accommodating that tree had been much easier.

'The landscape of Monkey Puzzle Drive and the business park site are considerably different and the two situations aren't comparable,' said Cllr Ball.

'The position they were in meant they had to come out.

'The site is not a flat and easy site to work with, it has a difficult topography. Leaving these two trees in place and planning around them would have threatened the economic viability of the site.

'The town has been waiting far too long for work to commence on this site and we are nearly there now.

'There are a number of companies both from the area and further afield enquiring about moving to the site.

'These won't be empty developments, it will bring business and employment to Okehampton.'

To find out more about the plans, visit the West Devon planning website, quoting planning number 00868/2014.