A council worker has responded after Plumstead residents voiced concerns for an historic tree.

Paul Walford recently got in touch with News Shopper after a 250-year-old tree situated on the corner of Wickham Lane and Plumstead High Street was cut down for 'no reason'.

However, Bob Charlton, who works for Greenwich council has replied in regards to why the action was taken to pull the tree down.

In an email to Mr Walford, Mr Charlton said: "First and foremost operational reasons have somewhat dictated the removal of the tree. Since the development of the corner plot on the junction of Wickham Lane and Plumstead High Street and the need to pollard the tree to facilitate the development.

"The resulting subsequent additional costs of maintaining the tree presently and in the future are significant.

"Both the regular pruning and the installation of traffic management required to allow the operation to go ahead safely have led to a significant increase in the cost of maintaining this particular tree."

It was therefore decided that in order to save these long-term costs, they would remove the tree and plant replacements in the general area that are more manageable.

Paul told News Shopper: ""This magnificent tree was professionally pollarded around three years ago and has benefited with a resurgence in growth and leaf cover."

"There was little to no notice, nor a residential consultation before they began cutting it down."

News Shopper:

Mr Charlton added: "Whilst London Planes are magnificent trees and ideal for surviving in areas where there are high levels of pollution there are alternative species that do a far better job in both pollution reduction and contribution to local bio-diversity.

"London Planes are non-native and they do have their place, but in terms of the overall efficiency of managing the councils current street tree stock it is considered that resources can be better used elsewhere in this particular case."

READ MORE: 'Iconic' 250 year old tree in Plumstead cut down for 'no reason'

"I would like to add that the tree in question was not totally defect free.

"There was a large non occluded wound and decay pocket through the lower trunk. Although the defect in question was not a significant problem at present, over time it would have likely become so.

"Also the growth of the tree is now beginning to displace kerbstones, once again, not a significant problem at this time, but again something that may become so in the future."

Greenwich council has refused to comment.