THE historic lime trees lining Skipton High Street which were planted in 1897 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, could have to be removed and replaced at a cost of £50,000.

Skipton Town Council has received concerns that some of the trees are reaching the end of their lives and are rotten or decaying.

Members of the public amenities committee agreed that they would seriously have to consider whether the trees should be replaced and if this was the case how funds could be raised to pay for a rolling programme of works.

They have already spoken to Bob Preece, of the Craven Tree Trust, and have invited him and chairman John Moody to the next council meeting to discuss the issue in greater depth.

The cost of replacing a lime tree with a suitable semi-mature tree would be approximately £1,500.

If the trees were planted at the rate of six per year, it is estimated that it would cost £9,000 per year for five years, and ancillary work would take the total to £50,000.

The council hopes to form a small working group of interested parties to investigate the future of the trees on the High Street.