Ilkley residents are accusing Bradford Council of hypocrisy over its handling of tree protection within the town's conservation area.

Queens Drive Lane householders are angry that while strict restrictions have been placed on what they can do with their own trees, around ten have been felled on nearby woodland.

The site concerned is also next to Panorama Woods, a wildlife rich, 4.8 hectare environment for which in January the council had sketched out ambitious protection plans.

Dr David Enion, speaking on behalf of the residents, said a lot of wildlife, including deer and badgers, had used the felled woodland.

He said: "It seems a bit unfair for the council to say they will be looking after the trees on one hand and then let the landowner cut down all these trees in a conservation area.

"The residents here can't touch our trees, so when we saw this happen we took it up with the tree people at Bradford Council.

"But we got a very unsatisfactory answer from them. They told us that the trees were of 'very poor quality' and that permission had been granted on condition other trees were eventually replanted.

"But these were big trees which had spilled over from the woods and provided a home to all kinds of wildlife.

"We've read in the Gazette about the council doing all these things to protect woodland in the town, so for this to happen right on the edge of Panorama Woods has just rubbed a lot of us up the wrong way.

"It seems hypocritical to allow this when they are talking about our area's fauna and flora."

Residents like Dr Enion also fear that the tree clearing could mark the first stage of a building development on the site. But Ilkley Town Hall planning officer Martyn Burke said no proposals had been submitted yet.

He said: "Shortly before Christmas permission was given to the owner of the woodland to remove trees from the site.

"These were all self-seeded trees and had no substantial individual merit. Around ten, which the council's tree officer deemed to be poor quality, were removed but a lot of laurels and bushes were cleared away at the same time, which probably resulted in the area looking a bit bare.

"The permission was given subject to a requirement for a significant number of new trees to be planted. We saw this as an opportunity to improve the mixture of species in the wood, because the trees which were felled were of a limited species.

"There is no question that any work done was illegal because the landowner did make a correct, formal application.

"I think the residents' concern is that collectively these trees were part of the woodland character of the area. They are also worried that a planning application might be on the way, but if that happens it will be advertised, and neighbours, and the parish council, will be notified."

He added that any proposed development would have to overcome a number of hurdles, including the fact that the site was in a conservation area and had restricted access.