MORE trees are set to be felled at Christchurch's Druitt Gardens with concerns raised about Ash Die Back near the site.

Members of Christchurch council's policy and resources committee agreed to fell three trees on the town centre site at a meeting last week.

The gardens, labelled 'sensitive' in a report from council officers, has been the subject of controversial tree felling in the past.

In 2014, campaigners were left angered when a “misunderstanding” between a developer and council officials led to a number of protected trees being damaged during an archaeological dig, before later being felled.

At the latest policy and resources committee, members were told that the planning committee had recommended only six out of a possible 15 trees should be felled.

In making that recommendation, members of the planning committee blasted the officers over "unsatisfactory" recommendations.

During the heated meeting in June, Cllr Peter Hall said the report contained “misinformation” and ridiculed its “confusing” use of Latin terminology in favour of plain English.

Following the planning committee, officers re-examined the remaining nine trees, concluding all of them would need some action "at some point".

Three of them need immediate action, but the remaining ash trees will need to be monitored due to Ash Die Back disease reported at sites just 10km away from the gardens.

The report to the policy and resources committee concluded: "The chairman of the committee asked for this report to be brought before the committee for a decision despite the fact that the responsibility for carrying out maintenance to council owned trees is delegated to officers.

"This was done to ensure there is full transparency over the decisions made in respect of the trees."

Officers will fell two of the trees as per the recommendations, and remove the crown of one ash tree.

They will closely monitor the condition of the others in line with its conservation area status and the council’s Tree Policy.