Council bosses have denied they are taking away any trees after work started to cut back shrubs in Bourtreehill.

Work started last week to remove shrub beds from around the homes at Milldown Place – which the council said will be replaced with grass by around March.

However the council denied it would be cutting down any trees as part of the works but admitted some trunks and stumps are being removed.

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Council said: “No trees are being cut down.

“We are replacing some shrub beds due to their age, condition, positioning or contribution to access problems and litter issues, with grass.

“A handful of dead, partial trunks or stumps are being removed. The works are taking place predominantly in Bourtreehill and should be completed by mid to late March.”

We reported previously how North Ayrshire Council’s Tree planting strategy would see 108,000 trees planted across the area by 2030.

It is part of the council’s commitment to be ‘net-zero’ by this time, in response to the climate change emergency.

The programme will create a new woodland resource in North Ayrshire and will be funded in part by a £500,000 allocation from the council’s investment fund.

Councillor Jim Montgomerie, North Ayrshire Council Cabinet Member for Green New Deal and Sustainability, said: “The increase in trees will help combat climate change as trees absorb substantial amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.

“However, it is important to recognise the wider reaching and longer-term benefits of trees and woodlands which align with the Council Plan.”