Councillors in Penryn have questioned why the church wants to chop down trees in a field near to the town's old cemetery.

The Diocese of Truro has applied for planning permission to cut down what it describes as "self-sewn sycamore, elm, ash and lime situated around the boundaries" of land it owns off Love Lane, between St Gluvias Church and the old cemetery.

But councillors at a meeting of the town's planning committee questioned why the diocese wanted to remove the trees, with the suggestion that it could be related to plans to turn the church's former coach house into a new home.

The committee chairman, councillor John Langan, said: "I think there's an ulterior motive."

He also wondered why the land was not owned by the town, to which councillor Mary May replied: "Because it belongs to the church, they've got land everywhere."

A tree surgeon's report prepared for the application has said some of the trees could damage the church wall, while others could affect the quality of the field in which they are growing, which is currently used for agriculture, but Mr Langan said: "They have not worried about it for the last 60 years."

The report by the tree surgeon, who is also the agent for the applicants, claims that the trees are "the result of approximately 20 years with lack of maintenance,"and on the application form it is written that "the encroachment has occurred during a relatively short time whilst under a different tenancy and is the result of neglect."

The tree surgeon also wrote: "They are worst on the west boundary with the church and vicarage where some damage is being caused to the church wall which I suspect is listed and needs dealing with as soon as possible.

"I would recommend the complete removal of the trees to the west and northeast including the roots as they are clearly preventing the efficient cultivation of the field and are continuing to encroach,

"It may be useful to leave some of those to the south as a useful green boundary to the path."

Councillor Chaz Wenmoth asked whether elms should be cut down as there is a "shortage" of the species across the country, and Cornwall Councillor John Symons said he thought there was "something else on the agenda" for the diocese.

Mr Langan suggested the council object to the proposal and "make a stand," because "the trees have amenity value to the town," and the church's reasons for removing them weren't robust.

Other councillors suggested deferring a decision as the application did not have enough information.

The committee voted to request further information on the amenity value and await the tree officer's report before making a decision.