10,000 people sign petition to save St Marks' 'elm corridor'

Felling to improve road safety and allow farm access

More than 10,000 people have now signed a petition to save an 'elm corridor' in St Marks.

It's after permission was granted to remove 25 elm trees to allow access to Ballavarvane Farm.

A petition was created on change.org last night.

The Manx Wildlife Trust has also hit out at the proposals saying the elms are of 'international importance' and a part of 'registered woodland with trees over 100 years old'.

Chair of the planning committee MHK Martyn Perkins says stringent conditions had to be met before planning permission was granted.

He says the move is to improve road safety following a crash, and a number of near misses on the road, and because only seven of the 25 trees are healthy - with 18 of poor quality.

Mr Perkins adds the loss of trees is regrettable but changes were made to the application to minimise the impact.

More than 300 trees will remain while others will be planted to offset those to be felled.