EARLY in the morning of Easter Monday Eastleigh Borough Council felled a tree (affectionately known as Sid the sycamore) in Leigh Road recreation ground.

Nothing too significant in that you might think, trees are being felled all the time.

However, not only was the tree perfectly healthy but it was planted to commemorate the granting of Borough status.

Why was it necessary to have a large police presence and engage a tree surgeon on a bank holiday if the felling was perfectly justified?

The tree was a symbol of the birth of Eastleigh Borough. Let's hope the tree's early demise is not symbolic.

TED INGRAM, Eastleigh.