A controversial application to remove ash trees along the riverside in Northwick has been withdrawn.

Oliver Carpenter who lives at Northwick Marina applied to Worcester City Council to cut down several trees along the river Severn last month - but has now withdrawn the proposals.

No reason has been given for the withdrawal of the plans.

He said in the proposal: "We have 17 Ash trees along the riverside at Northwick Marina, all are suffering from ash dieback. 

"We wish to remove 15 of them to enable replacement trees to be planted."

Despite ecologists confirming the trees were affected by the disease, neighbours slammed the application.

Many were worried that the removal of the trees would further exasperate natural erosion which has caused the closure of The Slip riverside path.

Among the objections was Ann Perkins, of Victoria Street, who said: "With the recent history of the landslip and closure of the footpath in front of this land, it seems preposterous to remove trees that are integral in reducing any further erosion."

Justin Lee of Northwick Road also objected writing: “The riverbank is already collapsing along here and the trees will be holding back what remains, to remove them would be dangerous and lead to more erosion.

"Development in this area has already done much damage and made the footpath unusable.

"I used to regularly walk this route with my dogs and I and the whole neighbourhood miss being able to nowadays.”

A public footpath along Northwick Slip runs by the western boundary of the Marina, however, it has been closed since March 2022 after natural erosion made the path unsafe for walkers.

An expert from Hillcrest Ecology visited the site and said the majority of the ash trees at the site have been assessed as having signs of ash dieback.

"Due to the proximity of the trees to a public footpath the landowner wishes to remove the trees to minimise the health and safety risk that the declining trees could represent to users of the footpath."

Worcestershire County Council said: "...the proposed work appears to have no negative impact on the Public Right of Way and we welcome the appropriate management of the trees."