A LETHAL disease led to a decision to chop down a pair of horse chestnut trees near tennis courts in Sidmouth’s Coburg Road.
The trees contracted bleeding canker disease – a deadly ailment that leaves trunks oozing and covered in sores – and one was felled on Wednesday.
The other is due to be cut down on Monday, December 19, after the operation was delayed due to the forecast of strong winds.
An East Devon District Council (EDDC) spokesman said the move was ‘regrettable’.
He added an analysis of the main trunk of the tree cut down this week showed that approximately 50 per cent of the wood was infected and the tree was “seriously weakened”.
He added: “EDDC will be replanting after Christmas with trees of a similar habit, but it won’t be horse chestnut again.
“A third tree in the row is showing signs of the disease and will be monitored closely during 2012.”
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