COUNCILLORS have called for a regular programme of maintenance after a scheme was agreed to cut back troublesome trees on a Crewe street.

Cheshire East Council is set to undertake a programme of "pollarding" of trees located on the roadside along Gainsborough Road.

Some of the trees are said to have caused subsidence in neighbouring properties with a number of homeowners launching compensation claims against the authority.

Now Crewe West councillors Connor Naismith and Marilyn Houston have revealed they have "negotiated" for the tree-lined stretch of Gainsborough Road to be tackled.

Pollarding involves removing upper branches of a tree and is viewed as essential maintenance for trees in built-up areas as it both lessens the shade cast, lessens the chances of interference with telecom wires and slows the growth of the roots underneath.

Cllr Naismith and Cllr Houston said: "Residents have told us they do not believe the trees have been pollarded in around 10 years, so we are really pleased we have been able to get this agreed after our campaign late last year.

"We look forward to the borough council now bringing forward a regular programme of highway tree maintenance so we don't reach this point again in the future."

The work is expected to be completed by March this year.

Sections of Gainsborough Road are dwarfed by large tree growth. Residents complained about cracks in the plaster of walls and ceilings as well as shifting in structures, such as bay window frontages.

One householder Dave Woolrich said he'd given up decorating his three-bedroom property because the cracks were so bad.

He still has an outstanding claim against the council for the damage, made more than three years ago, and argued the council has neglected to maintain the trees on pavements outside the homes.

The councillors have thanked local residents for coming forward and are encouraging anyone whose home is still affected to make a claim through the council's website.

Any wider tree maintenance programme would have wider funding issues.

Cheshire East Council has been asked to comment on it and the proposed "pollarding" project.