Anger is brewing in the Amman Valley after the ‘deforestation’ of Ysgol Dyffryn Aman’s ‘trademark’ trees.

The trees lining the fence of the school on Church Street were axed on Saturday, August 5 and Sunday August 6.

Residents and former pupils told the Guardian of their anger over the tree felling.

Martin Matthews said: “I’d love to find out who the disgraceful person is who authorised the trees to be cut down and not trimmed. It’s disgusting.”

Another resident and former pupil of the school said: “The deforestation of the school’s trees is a disgrace. The trees were part of the school’s trademark.”

A Margaret Street resident said she has been to the school with her concerns over the overgrowth of the trees.

She said: “I wrote Mr Perks (previous headmaster) and asked for the trees to be trimmed because they were hanging over the school buses and affecting the light going into my house.

“We had no notice at all before the work started at 8am on Saturday morning, and again on Sunday morning.

“The noise was horrendous for the two days. It’s such a shame that they have taken them down completely.

“They have taken away from the beauty of the school.

Headteacher Nerys Nicholas said the trees were felled following health and safety concerns.

She said: “The school is responding to a tree report submitted by the local authority and is adhering to Health and Safety guidelines to ensure safety on the school site.

“Many of the trees have already been trimmed several times over the years, and have now reached a point of old age which makes them unsafe to be left in their current state.

“The trees which are safe will be kept and there will be a re-planning programme in line with the local authority’s conservation recommendations.”

Carmarthenshire County Council said they had no involvement in the felling. They also confirmed that the trees were not the subject of a Tree Preservation Order.