BUSINESSMAN Anish Keshwara has asked Fenland planners for permission to cut down 20 trees in the grounds of his 17th century Whittlesey home.

Mr Keshwara’s tree consultant has told the council that the majority of the trees in the grounds of Grove House “are large, and fully, or over-mature”.

Tree surgeon Dr Frank Hope said: “Many of the trees are showing signs of significant decay and deterioration and have short, safe life expectancies.”

Dr Hope says the main safety hazard in the grounds of Grove House – believed to have been built as a hunting lodge for the Earl of Leicester- is the limes growing in the driveway.

“Some trees have been removed in the past,” he says

Two trees have already fallen over, one on The Walk (a public footpath) and the other on the drive close to the house.

Dr Hope said: “As these two limes have recently failed, the owners have shown concern in relation to the remainder of the trees within the grounds.”

He describes to planners how he visited the house during the summer, found each tree had been correctly tagged to make future identification straightforward, and then began his studies.

Looking to the future he added that “once the over mature limes are removed from along the drive, it would be possible to establish new, healthy trees to maintain the avenue.

“However I would recommend the use of silver limes as they do not cause problems with honey dew.”

Planners will consider his findings shortly.