MORE than 600 people have signed an online petition of ‘no confidence in Hyndburn Council’ sparked by the chopping down of two trees.

James Hothersall, a photocopying engineer behind the campaign, said Sunday’s felling of the two historic horse chestnuts by Accrington Market Hall was the ‘final straw’ showing the borough’s leadership failed to listen to residents.

Senior Tory councillor Peter Britcliffe will seek to get the petition debated by the full Hyndburn Council.

Borough Labour leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, said the trees roots affected plans for a new town square in Accrington commemorating the Pals regiment and its heavy casualties in the 1916 Battle of the Somme.

The petition tells councillors: “Stand down and allow the people of Hyndburn to elect people that will democratically represent them. Democracy has not been apparent in Hyndburn for some time.

"The recent act of felling the town’s two horse chestnut trees in front of the market hall that were heading for 80 years old was nothing less than an act of criminal damage.

“The council have blocked access to motor vehicles, starving the town centre of custom. They have built an unwanted bus station. Felling these two beautiful trees is the final straw.”

Accrington town centre resident, Mr Hothersall, said: “I don’t expect new council elections now.

“I would like to see this petition debated by the council, the flawed consultation on the town centre re-run and this council to start listening.

“I hope some independent candidates run for election May next year.”

Cllr Britcliffe said: “I do feel that this petition should be debated by the council and the plans for the town square consulted on again and reviewed.”

Cllr Parkinson said: “Elections for Hyndburn Council will be held in 2018.

“There were problems with those trees roots.They were stopping a proper view of the Market Hall’s beautiful facade. We are planting trees elsewhere.” He added: “The new town square to commemorate the Accrington Pals used money from the Heritage Lottery Fund.