FURTHER to the letter from Harry Bradbear (February 27), my Abbey Road neighbours and I also mourn the unexpected loss of the majestic horse chestnut tree that for so long graced the junction of Abbey Road and Priory Road.

It gave great pleasure throughout the seasons to many, including wildlife.

Despite some suffering from leaf miner and canker, neither unusual in this area nor life-threatening, it posed no noticeable danger to traffic or pedestrians.

Yet it was felled without consultation or warning on February 3, for which Abbey Road was closed, causing considerable local disruption.

According to Malvern Hills District Council, the thin sliver of land on which this tree stood magnificently for so long comes under Worcestershire County Council jurisdiction, and it was that council which closed Abbey Road and felled this tree – without apparently going through the due process of local public notification, consultation and warning before taking this unpopular and undemocratic action.

It makes one wonder what other parts of our conservation area could be under similar threat of unilateral action by the county council.

To atone for their act of undemocratic vandalism in the heart of our special town, I think that the county council should replace, promptly, the tree which they have felled.

The replacement needs to be a substantially-sized specimen tree and I would favour another horse chestnut tree, though local public consultation should dictate the choice.

If it is well established before the arrival of Malvern Civic Society’s proposed Wilson Memorial nearby, it should grow over the years to become as splendid and much-loved as the one which our community lost without warning a month ago.

We owe it to future generations to keep Malvern green and gracious.

Mike Yolland

Great Malvern