PROTESTERS have lost a battle to save trees being felled by developers.

Following a stand off by the A19 at the Germany Beck site today,a number of ash trees were felled in order to widen the road to improve access to the proposed new Persimmon 650-home estate.

Fulford Parish Council and a number of local residents had opposed the removal of the trees, arguing that they were within its boundaries.

 North Yorkshire Police were called to the scene this morning before the trees were felled to the disappointment of protesters.

Simon Usher, managing director at Persimmon Homes Yorkshire said: “We have a formal consent in place with the Council to undertake works in the highway and have undertaken substantial survey work to ascertain the boundary of the highway on the ground.

“We are aware of the concern raised by some residents and a fully qualified land surveyor was on hand to advise how the boundary had been ascertained and this was demonstrated at great length to the residents in attendance. After detailed discussions between the residents, the surveyor and the police, the residents moved out of the working area and the works were concluded peacefully.

“Discussions were sought with the Parish Council prior to works taking place today but despite several attempts no opportunity was granted and unfortunately the works could not be delayed any longer. It remains our aspiration to work constructively with both the Parish Council and the wider community in Fulford and a detailed programme of consultation will follow".

The Facebook page Help Save Fulford had appealed for "tree huggers" to help stop the trees being cut down.

One person, who asked not to be named, had said: "They are going to cut them down today and we are determined they are not going to."

Later another said it was "unbelievably sad" the trees had been felled. They said local residents and parish councillors were asked to step away for health and safety reasons.

It is not the first time developers and locals have clashed. Last month officers were called to Fulford, close to the Germany Beck site, to deal with an early morning stand-off between residents and developers over plans to cut down trees in the area.

The site has long been a subject of a planning row. Developers are to build 650 new homes although there was strong local opposition, partly due to a belief that the land is on the site of the 1066 Battle of Fulford.