A REPORT into the safety of hundreds of poplar trees in Stanborough Park was distorted by the borough council to justify their destruction, critics claim.

A mass clearing of the Lombardy poplars began in the south car park of Stanborough Park in November last year following two reports by experts who, the borough council claimed, had recommended felling of all trees.

Despite the vigorous efforts of campaigners fighting to save the poplars from the chop, the council pressed ahead with its destructive plans insisting the trees were decaying and had to be destoyed before their condition worsened.

The authority defended its course of action claiming pollarding - a solution proposed by campaigners who felt felling was unwarranted - would not have solved the problem.

But a report undisclosed to the cabinet, who sealed the fate of the trees in October last year, concluded very differently to the outcome presented by the council to press and public.

The report in fact identified pollarding and selective removable as a viable solution - recommendations strongly mirroring the views put forward by campaigners.

The report, seen by The Review, states: "The conclusion is that the trees are a valuable asset worth close to 0.5 million pounds, and that, with a degree of pruning that should be considered as acceptable with this type of tree, ie pollarding, the trees' potential for causing harm can be reduced to well within the acceptable limits of risk.”

Staunch campaigner Nigel Quinton told the Review: “The way this report was misrepresented is shocking. It's not just about the trees, it's about the way the public have been misled, which is arguably more serious.

"It is essential that a full and proper inquiry into the representation of the facts, both to the cabinet and to the public, is undertaken.

Mr Quinton, who uncovered the true findings of the report by demanidng a copy, claims it shows that a third report costing a further £5,000 was completely unnnecessary.

In the council's response to the Review's request for comment, it claimed the recommendations to fell the trees had come from its contractor Finesse Leisure, but was unable to confirm whether cabinet member Coucnillor Berry, or Ann MacDonald, the officer who presented the findings to cabinet, had read the Gristwood and Toms report.

Councillor Berry, who represents Hatfield North, said: "The council has acted robustly and thoroughly un determining its decision to fell the Lombardy poplar trees. "Because of high public opinion, the council commissioned a third survey of the trees last year which looked at the individual trees. As a result of the report only the trees in the south car park were felled.

"The council has not, in anyway, misled the public. We all knew the decision was an unpopular one to take but our concern was public safety. If the trees had remained the extent of the decay and problem would have worsened."