THE owners of Ilkley's Grove Hospital site were accused this week of wanton tree felling and have been reported to planning officers.

Trees on the site are protected as the land falls within an official conservation area. Several trees are also protected by individual preservation orders.

However, the Gazette was contacted this week by a furious reader who was appalled at the sight of trees disappearing.

The issue was immediately brought to the attention of Bradford Council and site owners - the Abbeyfield Residential Group - has been ordered not to cut down anything else.

A Bradford Council planning spokesman said: "We have been in contact with Abbeyfield, the site owners, to order them to stop felling trees which are subject to preservation orders and are within Ilkley's conservation area."

"We now plan to interview Abbeyfield and its contractors to establish the full facts of what has happened and a report will be passed to the council's principal planning officer for his consideration," he said.

The reader, who did not wish to be named, said the tree felling had been taking place over a considerable period of time before the council stepped in.

The council spokesman said general maintenance such as grass cutting and hedge trimming was one thing, but the cutting down of trees was quite another.

A council officer admitted the reports of the tree cutting had come as 'quite a surprise'.

The news has shocked the chairman of Ilkley Parish Council's planning committee, Coun Kate Brown.

Coun Brown (Con, Menston) said: "I was very concerned to hear about this. I thought it was just saplings which had been cut down at first, but I believe some larger trees have also been removed."

She said: "I can't really say any more at this stage but these trees have been removed without us yet having seen any plans for the site put forward."

Abbeyfield's acquisition of the site last year was welcomed by parish councillors, as its vision did not match fears of a concrete monstrosity appearing on the greenery in front of the hospital buildings.

Councillors felt the Abbeyfield scheme would be a good thing for Ilkley and serve a useful social purpose.

One aspect which appealed to councillors was the possible incorporation of a centre for the Ilkley Council for Voluntary Service (ICVS) and Abbeyfield's commitment to landscaping in front of the site.

In February last year, Abbeyfield confirmed it wanted the site to house the elderly and provide nursing care, creating a fully integrated care project.

Despite repeated efforts to obtain a statement from Abbeyfield, the Gazette was told that no-one there was available for comment.

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