OVERHANGING trees on Poplars Avenue are set to be cut back – almost two years after the problem was reported.

Sam Duncan, of Poplars Avenue, first notified Warrington Borough Council of the problem on September 3 2013 and was told the trees would be could back.

In February 2014 she was told that the work had been delayed due to bad weather, although around this time trees were cut from the Hilden Road end of the street but the work never reached past the Capesthorne Road shops.

Sam said that the overhanging branches have scratched and damaged parked cars and blocked light from street lamps, and believed that a number of crashes near her house may have been due to the poor lighting.

She said: “This is the first time I’ve ever asked Warrington Borough Council for help in the 15 years I've lived on Poplars Avenue.

“I would cut the hazardous branches on the trees back myself but have been told this would be an offence and I would be charged if I did. All I’m asking for is a few branches to be cut back- not the trees removed. The trees are lovely- it’s just the overhanging branches are very dangerous.”

Pruning is now scheduled to take place this winter, with interim work to raise the canopy of the trees to take place before then.

Cllr John Kerr-Brown said: “It’s not acceptable that it’s been put back to the end of the financial year considering it should have been done in 2014.”

Dave Cotterill, parks and woodland manager at Warrington Borough Council, explained that the delays were due to cutbacks in the department.

He said: “Trees on the Northerly section of Poplars Avenue were planted in the early 1980`s.

“They have been allowed to develop in their natural form with only minor works to raise the crown to facilitate maintenance and pedestrian access.

“These trees were programmed for a general prune during winter 2014.

“However, the arboricultural service has been subject to cuts which resulted in the loss of two posts from the team – as a consequence I have had to review the highway tree management programme in order to operate within the resources available.”