Developers have been accused of "robbing a community" after cherry trees that lent their name to one of Croydon's most well-known roads were felled.

Menta Redrow this month chopped down trees lining Cherry Orchard Road to clear space for four apartment blocks near East Croydon station. 

Croydon Council's strategic planning committee approved in September the developer's application, which stipulated the loss of the trees, to build 290 flats at the former site of office block Galaxy House.

Residents unaware of the plan are furious at what they described as "wanton vandalism".

Anna Walker, 49, of Stretton Road, Addiscombe, walks past the site each day to catch a train to central London, where she works as a choreographer. 

She said: "It used to be lovely. It was enchanting. When I moved here, we saw the cherry trees and it was beautiful because it was spring.

"Now they are gone and it is awful, depressing. I can't believe it. What's the point in calling a road Cherry Orchard Road when there are no more cherry trees?" 

Your Local Guardian:

Anna Walker and Rob Jenkins point to where the cherry trees once were

She said: "How did it get planning permission? The council should have stepped in and said, 'Hold on, you can build what you like but leave the trees here.'"

Her partner, Rob Jenkins, added: "I feel that the community has been robbed of a priceless heritage for the selfish profit of a very few who doubtless don’t even live in the community they have robbed.

"Nothing now can bring them back, and even if the council decided to plant some more cherry trees by way of compensating the community for their loss it will be quite some time before the magnificence of the former cherry trees will be realised."

Menta Redrow have promised to plant new trees when the development - called Morello, after the species of cherry - is completed, although cherry trees take years to mature. 

A spokeswoman for the developer said: "While we will be retaining as many of the trees at our Morello site in Croydon as possible, an assessment submitted with the planning application found that others were small and in poor condition and, with the agreement of the council, it was decided that these would be removed.

"Any loss of trees will be compensated by the planting of new ones as part of the development. We have worked with council officers to ensure that the new trees will have the chance to mature and make a long‐term contribution to the local landscape."

Your Local Guardian:

Cherry trees in Park Hill Recreation Ground, similar to those that lined Cherry Orchard Road

A spokesman for Croydon Council said planning consent was granted on the condition "significant landscaping" was undertaken.

He said: "None of the trees on site were protected or of such high value to the local area to warrant retention, so removal of the cherry trees was allowed as part of the development.

"A condition of the planning consent includes a significant landscaping scheme that will include mature tree planting, and the upgrading of the public footway, improving the street for residents with new paving and incorporating the planting of cherry trees to tie in with the area."