CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save 41 trees at Clitheroe Castle from the axe will be able to have their say during a public consultation exercise -- after more than half have been felled.

Ribble Valley Borough Council's community committee confirmed that following stage one of a three-phase programme, which involves removing 23 trees, the public will be able to express their views.

But members of STOMP -- Save the Trees on the Mount Please -- have slammed the public consultation in the wake of phase one as "pointless".

Jo Harding, speaking on behalf of the group's elected committee, said: "Once you cut down these 23 trees, the holding of a public consultation is pointless, because they can't be put back if it doesn't look right. We would rather the consultation period be held first."

He added: "All we want to do is talk to the council and tell them of the strong local feeling in the town. There are other ways of making the castle keep look better.

"We have good, reasonable alternatives to felling the trees, such as thinning, pruning and surgery.

"After that, we can step back and examine the results. The trouble with felling is there is no going back."

The group, formed after a public meeting attended by over 30 local residents, has written to the local government ombudsman, asking him to delay the felling work.

A spokesperson for the council said: "The committee wants to reinforce its commitment to the residents and communities of the Ribble Valley and to remind people that, following the first stage of the work, involving the removal of 23 trees, a period of assessment and reflection of the impact of the removals will take place.

"The first phase of this work relates to a planned three-phased approach for the removal of up to 41 diseased and decaying trees surrounding the castle keep.

"This project has been the subject of extensive consultation going back five years."

The council's claims that the trees are diseased and decaying has been refuted by STOMP. Mr Harding said: "We don't believe them. We have spoken to an expert who says that no tree is ever so diseased or damaged that that in itself justifies cutting it down."

Copies of STOMP's suggestions for the castle keep were distributed to members of the community committee on Tuesday.

The council spokesperson added: "We had always intended to hold a public consultation, but obviously we want to listen to the views of local people as well.

"No date has been set for the work to start, as the contracts have not yet been let."

And committee chairman Coun Harry Backhouse said: "The committee felt it was appropriate that the people of the Ribble Valley should play a part in assessing the impact of this work on Clitheroe's major tourist attraction.

"We believe that this is the most open and honest way of proceeding with the improvement project."