Thousands of diseased ash trees to be cut down

Up to 4,000 trees infected with a deadly disease that pose a risk to public safety will be felled or made safe after councillors allocated £2.8m for the work.

Bristol City Council has agreed to spend the money on felling ash trees that are in the latter stages of ash dieback – a windblown fungus that makes trees brittle – focusing on those that could collapse near roads and properties.

Part of the money will be spent on replacement tree planting, which will eventually increase Bristol's tree canopy, the council said.

The three Labour members on the public health and communities committee refused to support the plans while the other three parties voted in favour.