Oak tree

A bid to chop down two healthy ancient oaks in Brixington have been blasted by town planners.

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Exmouth planners have rubberstamped plans to fell two oaks at 19 Winchester Drive because they are causing subsidence.

But on Monday, planners took a swipe at developers for building homes too close to protected trees ‘which were there first’.

Brixington councillor Maddie Chapman said: “I am really not happy. OK, for one oak but not both.

“It is developers building houses too close to developments. We are losing an oak to get a fir tree.”

She added: “But we don’t have a choice - if we were to refuse we could be held liable for the damage to the home.”

Councillor Steve Gazzard said: “The trees were there first. People know that the trees are there when they buy the property.”

Councillor Richard Turner said: “Isn’t this taken into account when a house is being built? Surely people are not so stupid as to build where a tree could affect a home.”

The decision was taken following advice from the district tree officer.