The Manx Wildlife Trust has criticised the government planning committee over agreeing to the removal of a tunnel of elm trees in the south of the island.

Twenty-five trees lining the Braaid Road on each side towards St Mark’s will be felled to improve vehicular access to the properties off of the road.

Leigh Morris, chief executive officer of MWT, said: ’It’s a long-term environmental feature for the island and that’s why we’re so sad that they’re planning to make such a hole in it.

’Why are we taking these mature trees down? We don’t need to. There’s not a new building, access clearly works now.

’Is it really necessary?’

It follows a ’previous collision at the junction’ and ’reports of several near misses,’ according to the planning committee.

Removing the trees will ’improve visibility’ and reduce the risk of an accident.

Martyn Perkins MHK and chair of the planning committee said: ’The request centres on improving road safety which the planning committee cannot ignore.’

An online petition attracted 10,000 signatures within hours of the MWT commenting on the matter online.

Mr Morris said: ’The reaction’s been overwhelming for us, so it’s clearly not just us that’s feeling sad about these trees potentially being cut down.

’I think that already less than 12 or 16 hours into this social media storm.’

It’s uncertain how old the trees are.

Mr Morris added: ’Our best guess is that they’re 100 years old and they were actually made registered trees in 1982, so 40 years ago they were clearly significant enough to be given some sort of duty of protection in the island.

’They could only be halfway through their lifespan.’

Mr Perkins said: ’Of the 25 trees to be removed, seven are of good condition and 18 are of poorer quality.’

But Mr Morris told the Courier they ’are not showing any symptoms of disease’.

He continued: ’It’s an important tunnel of elm trees, it’s an important species and an important feature of which there’s only about two or three such features in the Isle of Man. There aren’t many such tunnels in the Isle of Man.’

Chris Packham, a wildlife TV presenter, hit out at the decision on social media.

He said: ’It’s an absolute disgrace and whoever granted the permission should have a sit down and a rethink.

’This is a national treasure - not an inconvenience to be destroyed for a farm.’

A number of politicians and candidates have joined the criticism on social media.

Two weeks ago, the Manx Independent highlighted the planning application when local MHK Graham Cregeen complained that the planning notice could not easily be seen.

A date to fell the trees has not yet been decided.