MP JOHN Grogan has warned developers to prepare for a "battle royal" over a proposed York housing development after a second 150-year-old tree was felled.

The Selby Labour MP made his comments after discovering landowners the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) had axed the last of two 150-year-old Copper Beech trees at Connaught Court sheltered housing in Fulford yesterday.

Outline planning permission has been given for the RMBI to build 54 homes along with a 38-bed sheltered home on the site, but Mr Grogan had hoped the tree would be saved after he held talks last Tuesday with RMBI top brass to secure a stay of execution.

He said however that since then the RMBI had refused point-blank to meet him and City of York Council officers to discuss the various contradictory expert reports concerning the safety of the two trees. The first tree was felled last Tuesday following a two-day vigil staged by protesters trying to save both trees ended dramatically when the police stepped in and forcibly removed six protesters, including Coun Andy D'Agorne and wheelchair-user Belinda Nova.

Denise Craghill, of Broadway West, York, and 45-year-old Rosemary Hawksford, of Dewsbury Terrace, York, were arrested, but both were later released without charge.

Coun Andy D'Agorne said he supported moves by residents for the ombudsman to investigate the council's approval of the tree felling.

He said: "I think questions have to be answered in terms of the council process and I certainly will be arguing that decisions of this seriousness shouldn't be taken by a single officer under delegated powers."

Protester David Wilkinson, 45, of Atcherley Close, who was one of those at last week's vigil, said: "I'm gutted, livid, appalled and hurt.

"I have been in and looked at the stumps of both of these trees they have cut down now and they are in perfect health - they were superb specimens with, maybe, another 100 years to live."

Mr Grogan said: "In my seven years as the Member of Parliament for Selby I have never had to deal with a more difficult and aloof organisation than the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution."

A spokesman for the RMBI said the felling of the trees was a separate issue to the planning application that has been submitted and it had a responsibility to its residents to fell the trees as they were unsafe. He said: "Mr Grogan and others who have expressed concern, can be assured that nobody will be made homeless during this exercise and the development will blend in and be an asset to the local community."

Updated: 14:09 Wednesday, October 06, 2004