Councillors have "reluctantly" decided to order the felling of seven large trees have they damaged two homes.

One lime tree and six oak trees in Fareham are to be chopped down after causing structural damage to two residential properties in Southmead Road and Heath Lawns.

The trees, valued at over £750,000, are situated in the back garden of both Fareham homes.

The decision was made by Fareham Borough Council's planning committee last week.

Trees will be felled between 20 Southmead Road and Heath LawnsTrees will be felled between 20 Southmead Road and Heath Lawns

FBC said that following extensive site investigations, it was determined that the trees are the likely cause of subsidence and resultant structural damage to the two properties.

Whilst repairs to the properties will be covered by insurance company Direct Line, far more extensive structural works would be needed if the trees which caused the damage are to remain in place.

The insurance company would attempt to seek the increased costs of repair works from the council, at a cost of more than £200,000, if it did not allow the trees to be removed, the council said. 

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The council members decided that it was not fair for Fareham taxpayers to bear the burden.

Chairman of the planning committee, Cllr David Foot, said: “This was an incredibly difficult decision for the Members of the committee.

“The trees undoubtedly make a positive visual contribution to the area - the visual benefits needed to be considered alongside the fact that the homes of two families are being damaged.

“On top of this, if the council refused consent to fell the trees, the insurance companies would seek to recover their increased repair costs from the council."

Homeowners have been suffering from subsidence and cracking to their wallsHomeowners have been suffering from subsidence and cracking to their walls

A replacement tree must be planted for each tree felled.

At a meeting last week, homeowner Mr Hazelgrove pleaded with the council members not to “prolong” but to make a decision to refuse or approve. He said deferring again would be agony and the cracks could not be fixed.

Mr Hazelgrove said: “Living with this has been horrendous: we cannot close our windows or doors and the floors move.”

The council has separately been lobbying the government throughout the year to make changes to the legislation around tree preservation orders, so that felling trees implicated in subsidence cases should be considered as a last resort rather than one of the first options.

FBC said that to date the government has indicated it does not intend to review the existing legislation around tree preservation orders.