AN 87-year-old tree, which Prime Minister David Cameron tried to save, was cut down in Leafield village on Monday.

The mighty horse chestnut on The Green was felled by tree surgeons.

Councillors from Leafield Parish Council decided two weeks ago it should be cut down over fears it was causing cracks to appear in a neighbouring house 10 metres away.

Cracks first appeared two years ago in the old butcher’s shop, which has since been turned into a house.

The owner’s insurance company said damage was being caused by the tree, and it would cost £68,000 to underpin the property.

There has been huge opposition to the felling of the horse chestnut and more than 150 residents signed a petition to save it.

Oxford Mail:

  • The tree as it was before the chop

They argued not enough research had been carried out into what was causing the damage to the house.

Mr Cameron, the Witney MP, stepped into the dispute, requesting the insurers find a way to save the tree, but to no avail.

The horse chestnut was planted in 1927 to celebrate running water being pumped to homes in the village for the first time.

 

 

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