CALLS by councillors to safeguard a threatened tree outside NatWest in West Street have been echoed by community representatives.

Writing to Waverley officers to request a tree preservation order (TPO) be put in place and the application be called to committee, Cllr George Hesse deemed the felling of the tree as “totally unacceptable”, and that the majority of the Farnham Town Council’s planning and licensing working group “opposes the removal of this tree”.

But despite his pleas and Waverley officers agreeing the tree is of “high public amenity value”, officers said the application could not be brought to committee as it is “not possible to determine a conservation area notification even at committee”.

They also denied implementing a TPO as the “tree is likely to have a very limited remaining useful life expectancy”.

Joining Cllr Hesse’s motion for action, town councillor Kika Mirylees voiced her view on the “destruction of the laburnum tree”.

She said: “As councillors I feel we should have been consulted. Apart from anything else, when the cry goes up from the public, who see it as yet another unwelcome decision that has been taken over their heads, it is us who take the rap.

“Not that I mind taking a rap for decisions – that comes with the territory – but I resent it when we are not responsible.

“Waverley’s core strategy for our towns is a green one. As a double-hatted councillor I support that. Preserving our trees is of utmost importance.”

The Farnham Society also said it believed the “tree is significant in the conservation area and should be listed”.