A roads boss has apologised for misleading Bingley residents over tree-felling along the proposed relief road.

David Harvey, group leader of the Highways Agency, said he was sorry after complaints from Shipley Green Party that promises given to Bingley Neighbourhood Forum on February 3 had been broken.

An angry Muriel Thompson said what had been done represented a disgraceful act of vandalism.

"At the forum the representative of the Highways Agency promised that no tree-felling would be done in the foreseeable future in Bingley, since the preliminary work on the road was not due to start until autumn and the road itself was not due to be started until spring 2001.

"Twenty days after this promise was given, a swathe of woodland 50 yards wide by one-third of a mile long - the area bounded by Wagon Lane, the Dowley Gap tip, the rugby and cricket fields and the river - had been completely felled.

"This was done in a most rough and ready manner, most of the trees having been cut off at waist level and some trunks having been partially broken off - the result being that we now have a splendid view of Dowley Gap tip."

Mr Harvey agreed that an Agency representative had told the forum meeting no trees would be felled this winter and it would be carried out in Autumn 2000. But in a statement to the Telegraph & Argus, he said: "After the Government announced that Bingley was one of a number of national road schemes to be accelerated, it was decided to bring forward some of the preparatory work, including the tree felling.

"Prompt action was then required by the Highways Agency to ensure the trees were felled before the beginning of March and the start of the bird-nesting season. The trees are now down and work is in hand to remove debris and wind-blown rubbish from the site.

"I apologise for misleading the neighbourhood forum. The subsequent tree felling was a response to external factors and is part of a package of measures which should ensure the main works contract meets the new accelerated start date."

The final road scheme would feature landscaping and include substantial tree planting, resulting in many more trees.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.