RESIDENTS are furious after council workers “ruthlessly slashed down” hedges in a posh area leaving an “eyesore”.

       The overgrown hedgerow in Sandbanks, on the edge of Poole Harbour, Dorset, has been ruthlessly cut back to the stump.

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       Sandbanks residents say the hedges have not just been cut back but 'slashed down' Credit: BNPS 4

       How the hedges looked before they were cut back Credit: BNPS 4

       One local described it as an 'eyesore' having gone far beyond a 'hard prune' Credit: BNPS

       Officials said they acted to improve the safety of pedestrians crossing the road.

       They had also received complaints that the overgrown foliage was scratching some of the flash cars parked on the millionaire's row.

       But while well-heeled residents had called for the hedges to be better maintained some said the workmen have gone too far and “devastated the area”.

       They accused Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council of being “heavy handed” by “hacking down” the hedges instead of just trimming them back.

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       There were even claims that they had acted to improve the views of residents in exclusive flats, although this was denied.

       'ABSOLUTE EYESORE'

       Caroline Papp, 52, a career coach who lives in nearby Ashley Cross and frequently walks in Sandbanks, said: "It is an absolute eyesore; I don't understand why they needed to be cut back quite so much.

       "It is terrible, they need to consider the wildlife; birds nesting in the hedges will have nowhere to go.

       "It is important to have greenery in our area.

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       "I know you need to cut back the hedges every year to not block the path but this is far beyond a hard prune.

       "They have devastated those hedges and I suspect it is a cost-cutting exercise as it was cheaper to do it that way."

       We can't let things go to rack and ruin; we need to be proactive

       Sandbanks resident Sandie Smith, who supports the move

       A Sandbanks resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "It looks horrible, I don't know why they didn't trim them instead of hacking it down."

       However, other locals praised the council for a “great and proactive decision”.

       Sandie Smith said: "I think it is a great decision - the plants will be fresh and reinvigorated for the summer.

       "We can't let things go to rack and ruin; we need to be proactive."

       Stephen Allen said: "The hedges were completely overgrown as they had not been cut since before the pandemic, when they should be done every year.

       "They had become a safety hazard as there is a zebra crossing and when you drove down the road people would suddenly appear from behind the hedge and you would have to do an emergency stop.

       "It was an accident waiting to happen.

       "The council have completely chopped it back and it looks ugly at the moment but it will grow back.

       "I know they are cash-strapped but they need to do a better job maintaining this area of Sandbanks."

       A spokesman for BCP Council said coppicing would not harm wildlife and regrowth will appear in the spring when plants start to produce flower heads.

       He insisted improving residents' views was “not part of their consideration” and they instead acted as a “safety” measure.

       'NO IMPACT ON WILDLIFE'

       Councillor Andy Hadley, portfolio holder at BCP Council for climate response, environment and energy said: "The tamarisk hedgerows on Banks Road have been coppiced.

       "This is normal practice to improve the health of the plant, prevent tangled branches and promote dense heads of foliage.

       "In this instance, the safety of pedestrians and road users in the area was also a significant factor in the decision to coppice, as we had received multiple reports of the hedge impacting on the line of sight of people using the crossing point outside the Sandbanks Hotel, and the public crossing from the beach to the Tesco Express.

       "The plants had very thick woody growth and now this can be maintained each winter without any impact to the public, wildlife, or road users.

       "Regrowth will appear in the spring when the plant starts to produce flower heads.

       "These are good for bees, butterflies, and any other pollinators in that area.

       "There is no impact on wildlife."

       Sandbanks, which is made up of about 800 households, has several famous residents including former football managers Harry Redknapp and Graeme Souness and the computer magnate Sir Peter Ogden.

       It comes after residents living near Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon are furious over the "endless" building work going on at his home.

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       In July last year, residents were left fuming after their council put up a huge 1.8m fence outside their homes.

       Meanwhile, an elderly retired school teacher has found herself caged into her own home by "spiteful" council bosses hell-bent on selling off a car park to developers.

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       Some residents were in favour of the council's actions, saying the hedges were 'completely overgrown' Credit: BNPS