Two huge 20-metre high beech trees have collapsed in a Reedley man’s garden, leading him to accuse a council of ‘gambling’ with the lives of his family.
Burnley Council had forbidden him from cutting them down.
Thirty-six-year-old Kamran Chaudhary has criticised the council of negligence after he expressed fears over the danger posed by the two giant trees, only to be told that they were protected by preservation orders as they complemented the area.
Despite Chaudhary having sought an expert opinion and been told that the trees were dying and dangerous, he was informed that he could not cut them down, even when they began to lean.
The IT contractor, who rents the property to his parents, his brother, sister-in-law and nephews, lives around the corner in Patterdale Close.
He said: “It was like a big bang and a scrape and it woke us up. My wife and I were not sure what had happened. It wasn’t until the next morning when my brother texted me to say what had happened that we realised. I think the council has misjudged the safety of these trees immensely. They could have killed someone. I think they have gambled with my family’s life as well as the lives of the people who use the footpath. They could have fallen at any moment and when they did fall you could see how rotten the roots were.”
Cllr Trish Ellis, who represents the area on Burnley Council, said: “I have told the council that we must do everything we can to help and closely monitor the situation.”
A Burnley Council spokesman said: “The council has acted on the available information and expert advice at all stages throughout this matter.”
