A MYSTERY chainsaw gang have left string of West Swindon roadside trees looking like a “dog’s breakfast”.

Councillors say they have been unable to discover who cut down the trees.

But councillors say they are certain that the work – on trees between Roughmoor Way and Saddleback Road – was not commissioned by the borough council.

They want anyone with information about the tree attack to come forward.

Councillor Mary Martin, a ward councillor for Shaw and cabinet member for transport, said: “Early in December there were reports of tree felling in here.

“We initially looked to see if this was work that was supposed to be being done by the council – obviously concerned about the quality of the work if it was being done by the council – or some other authorised person.

“Through the various enquiries we were able to establish that this hasn’t been requested and no permission has been given. As you can see it really is a dog’s breakfast in terms of the way it’s been cut.

“This is something we really can’t afford to see anywhere else in the borough. That’s why we’re making a really big thing out of it. People need to be aware: to do this kind of damage to established tree plantations is trespass, is criminal damage.”

Around 20 trees have been cut at various heights – with some branches being pollarded high into the canopy.

Whoever carried out the work has left many of the cut branches beside the trees.

Coun Martin warned that further work might need to be done in order to make the area safe. The thin band of trees are apparently used as an informal play area by local children, with swings hanging from some of the remaining trees.

She said: “There’s only a limited amount we can do. Some of the remaining trees are unsafe because they’ve lost their friends in the cover.

“There may be some additional tree work that has to be done to remove things, then the area will be left to naturally regenerate, which will obviously take quite some years.”

She asked anyone with information about how the trees were felled to come forward.

"Any information received will be treated as confidential and may assist the Council to take action against those responsible for this damage," Coun Martin said.

Resident Dale Bowler, 56, of Saddleback Road, was surprised to hear about the tree damage: “I hadn’t even noticed.”

He questioned what use a local resident would get out of the wood: “Nobody has wood burners around here."

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