COMMUNITY and protest groups in the Ribble Valley are to be consulted on the future of 25 trees in the grounds of Clitheroe Castle.

The Ribble Valley Council's Community Committee approved in principle the felling and pruning of dead, dying and dangerous trees this week.

The removal last October of 20 trees surrounding Clitheroe Castle Keep was greeted with a storm of protest from local residents.

They formed a pressure group, STOMP: Save our Trees on the Mount Please, and saved a further 14 trees from the axe.

Now councillors have been told that a survey of grounds to the east of Clitheroe Castle had revealed 25 beech and sycamore trees were dead, dying or in a dangerous condition.

Council officers recommended that the trees be removed and replaced with at least 20 others, including oak, birch and rowan.

Engineering Manager Graham Jagger said: "Selective felling and pruning will allow us to supplement existing tree cover and diversify the treescapes, species and age range. Around 20 new trees will be planted, with further to follow in due course. We propose the work be delayed until late summer or early autumn, following consultation."

Council leader Chris Holtom said the council had learned from the protest and improved its public consultation process.

"It was felt that we hadn't undertaken enough consultation when the earlier trees were removed and some of the criticism was justified.

"The recommendation of council officers that further trees be removed following public consultation was supported by the committee."

STOMP spokesman Jo Harding welcomed news that there would be consultation on the future of the trees.

"The removal of trees in the castle grounds is a sensitive issue and the people of Clitheroe ought to be consulted."