Maldon Town Council (MTC) has voted to recommend approval of felling and reducing trees in a conservation area.

Members of MTC's planning committee unanimously came to the decision last night (Monday, 23 August) on the basis that the damaged trees, at Beeleigh Mill on Abbey Turning, are "dangerous".

The proposal involves felling three cracked willow trees, reducing a "very large, almost dead" ash tree to six metres and felling a dead hawthorn tree which is lying over a path.

The trees all lie within the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation Conservation Area.

Councillor Flo Shaughnessy said: "If these willows are cracked then they have to come down, because willows can be dangerous.

"I'm glad to see the ash tree is being saved because ash trees are becoming so rare."

She added: "[The trees] have become a threat to the historic mill and perhaps a danger as well."

Councillor Shaughnessy proposed to recommend approval of the application, subject to comments from the tree officer. This was unanimously voted through by the committee members.

Maldon District Council (MDC) will make the final decision.