Claims that "environmental vandalism" is being caused through the cutting down of trees in the centre of Penryn have been denied.

The Packet has received a number of telephone calls from angry residents, protesting against the removal of trees from the Fish Cross area of the town as part of an overhaul of the town centre.

Work was due to start on April 24 on the Penryn Public Realm Works scheme to improve the environment of the town, which see the area transformed into a focal point of the town and the old bus shelter replaced with a new one, as well as additional public seating.

However, David Anderson, who lives at Penwerris Terrace in Falmouth, said he considered the chopping of the trees to be "environmental vandalism."

Mr Anderson said: "I think it's a very destructive move to cut trees down like that. These trees have been there for decades. If these trees are taken down it means they'll be absolutely no trees in Penryn. What's the purpose in that? It seems to me the decision has been taken completely arbitrarily."

Sue Mitchell, who lives at Higher Market Street, just above Fish Cross, said: "What on earth is the reason for felling trees? I can't understand why anybody should want to get rid of trees. If they're regenerating that area why on earth would trees go?"

She claimed that the trees had already been "mutilated" through so many branches being removed.

However, Chris Matthews, project conservation officer at Carrick district council, said that only two trees were actually being removed, one of which was being replaced like for like.

He explained that following advice from Oliver Bennett, tree officer at Cornwall county council, a London Plane tree was to be removed because it was beginning to die. This would be replaced with another London Plane, which would be planted slightly away from the old fire station building, which it was currently quite close to. "What is hoped is that we can allow the trees to grow a bit more and have a bit more foliage," said Mr Matthews.

The second tree, a lime tree, was growing too close to a building, he continued. It was hoped that this could be dug up and replanted elsewhere, although it was not yet known whether the roots would allow this to be possible.

Mr Matthews said that work on other trees, in the Saracen Way area of Penryn, was due to begin yesterday and work in Fish Cross was expect to start in around four to five weeks. It was hoped that the whole project would be completed in around eight weeks, although CORMAC, who are due to carry out the work, have been contracted for 12 weeks.