STAFF at a Basingstoke solicitors were disappointed when they arrived at work to find a treasured tree outside their office had been cut down.

The early mature Norway maple, in Haymarket Yard, Basingstoke, was removed by Festival Place because it was causing damage to a surrounding wall and obscured the view from CCTV cameras.

But staff at Brain Chase Coles Solicitors were angry they were not informed the tree would be chopped down – a move that has left them with an unpleasant view of concrete and other buildings from their office.

Kate Martin, a solicitor at Brain Chase Coles, said staff enjoyed seeing the tree filled with pink blossom in the spring, its green leaves in the summer, and orange leaves in the autumn.

Jonathan Coles, a 52-year-old senior partner at the solicitors, said: “I started work at 8am to find contractors had already cut the tree down.

“When I asked why, they said the tree was damaging the wall. I told them to leave the tree and knock down the wall instead.”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council said that Festival Place had organised the removal of the tree, and had given notice to the council beforehand.

The shopping centre also informed the council that it intends to plant a more suitable replacement tree that will not cause the same problems.