A WAR of words has broken-out over plans to cut back several protected trees on the site of Grade II listed army barracks in Exeter.
Several residents at the Horseguards, near the city centre, want some large trees to be pruned in an effort to reduce leaf fall onto their homes.
But other residents fear the action would be detrimental to the conservation area, and want the mature species to be left to grow naturally.
Property management agency Whitton and Laing is consulting over proposals to undertake £2,700 of work on four trees, subject to preservation orders, in the Quadrangle part of the estate.
Gavin Heighton, 67, said: "These gnarled and magnificent old trees fringe the old grassed parade ground and enhance and complement the surrounding military buildings.
"The trees illuminate the Quadrangle with blossom in the spring, provide welcome shade on hot summer days and stunning colour in the autumn. They enhance one of Exeter's diminishing green spaces, play an important role in the historic fabric and social history of the city, and represent one of the jewels in its crown."
Michael Morris, 79, said: "The trees are wonderful specimens as they are. But if they are pruned they will become mutilated wrecks."
Other residents say pruning the trees is necessary because of their size and resulting leaf fall. John Vinall said: "The trees have grown to a height of around 50 metres, which is around three times the size of my house. All we are asking is for the trees to be managed."
Annie Harvey said: "We would like minor pruning to reduce the leaf fall. I am sick to death of having to clear-out the gutters every two weeks at a cost of £300 a time.
"It's absolutely ridiculous to suggest nothing should be done."
A report by Dartmoor Tree Surgeons, on behalf of the estate agency, recommended maintenance work within six months on another 11 trees, largely to remove 'major' dead wood.
Proposals were submitted by the managing agency to Exeter City Council in January to prune four of those trees. The works would include reducing the height of one plane tree on the Quadrangle by around five metres.
Julie Weaver, Whitton and Laing's head of estate and apartment block management, said: "Whitton and Laing, as managing agents of the Horseguards development, have acted at the request of a number of owners, who were concerned that these trees were having a negative impact upon the structural integrity of their Grade II listed building.
"We are duty-bound to investigate all reasonable requests, following which we are consulting with a large group of residents to seek their opinion as to the best way to take matters forward, based upon the consensus of opinion.
"We seek only to protect and preserve the buildings and grounds of Horseguards and it would certainly never be our intention to undertake any work that was detrimental to this historic, landmark site."
The former cavalry barracks, named Higher Barracks, were built in 1794 in response to fears of invasion from Napoleon's armies after the French Revolution.
