CHELSEA gold medal winner Julian Dowle has accused civic leaders of 'official vandalism' over the way they manage the woodlands around Newent Lake.

The internationally-acclaimed landscape gardener, who regularly judges at the prestigious garden show, has objected to plans to carry out work on the trees at the beauty spot.

Proposals to carry out a five-year rolling programme of felling and pruning the woodland area around the lake have sparked an outcry in the town.

Mr Dowle and other nearby residents say the town council has been too heavy handed in the past and destroyed valuable wildlife habitats.

They have written to the district council complaining about the 'ruthless manner' in which the work was carried out a few years ago and urged them not to allow a repeat.

Mr Dowle said: "The damage was awful.

"I think as an amenity it is really rather special and they displayed what can only be described as official vandalism.

"Not only did they expose the backs of houses to the main road, they churned up the site of the old canal and almost bulldozed their way through.

"I am protesting because I know from past experience the kind of thing they can do."

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