Sir - Many readers are familiar with the recent felling of 11 willows on Osney Island, on the grounds of public safety. This seems like common sense, so why are the residents of Osney so upset with the city council?

The Osney towpath falls within a conservation area, is a much visited beauty spot, and a village green' for the residents on which we have picnics, parties and fetes. Given the sensitivity of the site, consultation with residents over the fate of the trees would seem obvious. But the council failed to consult with, or proactively inform the residents of their intent. But perhaps the true reason behind the non-consultation lies in the council's own tree survey, which councillor Armitage refused to show to the residents. We finally acquired this document under a Freedom of Information Act request. The survey states that four of the trees were "in reasonable health" and presented no hazard, several others were healthy but presented some hazard, and a few were very rotten and required felling urgently.

Similar conclusions are reached in an independent survey commissioned by Osney residents from a respected arboricultural expert, who recommended pollarding. But the council chose to cut them all down.

On the one hand they fell healthy, non-hazardous trees, on the other hand they neglect to manage the few trees that have been completely rotten for years, and fail to alert residents to the dangers on their doorstep. The council should apologise to Osney residents for its act of vandalism, and should instigate a proper plan to manage Oxford's mature trees in a transparent, safe and sensitive manner.

For more information see: www.osneyisland.org.uk/Newsletter-NovDec06.pdf.

Richard Thurston, Chairman, Osney Island Residents' Association