A CORNWALL councillor was silenced in the chamber at Lys Kernow/County Hall this week when he attempted to ask the Liberal Democrat/Independent administration about Cornwall’s most infamous trees.

Cllr Dean Evans wryly stated that the Trelawney trees in Falmouth were nothing special until a few months ago “when they appeared to threaten the security of the nation”.

He was referring to the ongoing saga of three lime trees which the community in and around Trelawney Road in Falmouth are trying to save. Following two very public protests earlier this year, Cornwall Council was forced to stop felling the healthy street trees. The legal reasons behind the 60-year-old trees having to come down were not revealed by the council at the time.

However, the authority later said the roots were affecting utilities such as streetlight power cables, water pipes and internet cables. This was called into question by the area’s Labour member at Cornwall Council, Cllr Laurie Magowan, who said there was no proof that was the case.

What has become clear in the ensuing weeks is that the council agreed an out-of-court settlement with a third party. Stop the Chop! campaigners have suggested it could be as much as £100,000 which has been paid out – a figure which has not been denied by leading councillors. There is a confidentiality clause which means no-one at the council is allowed to talk about the details of the settlement, believed to be with a home owner who lives near the trees.

Cllr Evans, a Green Party member who represents Penryn, attempted to explain the back story of the situation during a meeting of the full council this week. Council chairman Cllr Rob Nolan told him to hurry up and get to his question to Cabinet members because “we all know the story”.

“Do we indeed? I wish we did all know the story,” replied Cllr Evans. “The fact is there have been questions raised, Freedom of Information requests have been put through and denied on the basis of no public interest. There are more and more people in Falmouth that are interested.

“People wonder whether the ownership of the house and any relationship they may have with Cornwall Council officials may be relevant here and what advice they’ve been given either over the dinner table or the office desk.”

At that point Cllr Nolan jumped in and said: “I’m sorry, you’re making accusations against people who are not in a position to answer them. I’m just not going to proceed with that, so stop right there.” Cllr Evans never did get to ask his question.

The council is due to remove the trees later this year, possibly in November, despite local feeling.