ANGRY Romsey residents have rallied together to stop a “beautiful tree” from being hacked down.

They say that if the tree is cut down it will be paved over to create a new farm track.

Residents believe it is “totally unnecessary” to create the new route from Scoreys Crescent to Ganger Farm when there are “already two existing ones”.

One critic says axing the tree next Monday could be “illegal” if there is evidence of bats living in it.

However, development director for Barratt Homes, Julian Jones, hit back at the claims stressing they were already given planning permission to “remove two trees on the boundary of Ganger Farm”, to build a track into the owners’ land.

Sheila Floyd, who lives in Scoreys Crescent, said: “If the road is put in it will pose a significant health and safety risk to residents, especially as there are young families with children who play outside and the machinery would be coming so close to the houses.”

She added: “It is an extremely beautiful tree that could be hundreds of years old and could be home to a whole range of wildlife.”

Fellow resident Kathryn Hartwell, 30, added: “What really frustrates and angers me is the developers are looking to build a road to nowhere to access a field when there are already two other roads they can use.

“The work will disrupt everyone on the estate with the heavy farming machinery passing our houses and the fact they are looking to fell a mature oak tree, which is the symbol of Barratt Homes, is a shame.”

Residents have contacted wildlife expert, Chris Packham, and Hampshire Wildlife Trust in a move to stop the felling.

Cllr Dorothy Baverstock, who represents Romsey Cupernham on the borough council, said: “I am appalled anyone would want to chop a tree down and I don’t know why they cannot choose another route for this road and leave the tree standing?”

Mr Jones said: “Barratt was granted planning permission in 2018 to remove two trees on the boundary of Ganger Farm to enable it to fulfil its contractual obligation to build a vehicular access into the owners’ retained land. A request was submitted to Test Valley Borough Council to create a TPO on the trees in question, which was confirmed on March 16, 2020. The council has confirmed that in such a situation the planning consent takes precedent over the TPO, therefore we intend to lawfully removal of the trees on Monday, June 15.”