DAVENHAM residents are being urged to share their views on trees in the centre of the village.

Villagers were fuming when two trees by the war memorial at the junction of Hartford Road and London Road were cut down by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) in October.

Davenham Parish Council is now inviting residents to its next meeting, on February 29, to discuss whether the trees should be replaced or not and, if they are replaced, what with.

Cllr Arthur Wood said: "You could make the case for not putting the trees back at all.

"The pavement is not very wide for two trees.

"A new tree is going to have to spread and I'm concerned we're creating a ginnel.

"Maybe we should look for a small tree that won't get out of hand and possibly one not two."

Cllr Katie Mattinson, parish council chairman, said: "There are slippery flagstones outside there and the Oddfellows.

"I think this is part of a bigger issue – we need to look at it and take a bit longer."

Cllr Mattinson also queried the general belief that the trees were planted to commemorate the villagers who lost their lives in the First World War.

Cllr David Ravenscroft said: "They weren't there on a picture of the opening of the war memorial in 1927, they were planted after that date.

"The trees were in the garden of the school originally.

"I remember when I was at Davenham School they were there."

Cllr Mattinson said the ultimate decision about the area would rest with CWAC but that residents should attend the public participation session at the start of the next parish council meeting to express their views.

This takes place at Davenham Methodist Church hall from 7.15pm.