LIKE Ron Julian (letters 15/3/07) I and many other Kingswinford residents was dismayed at the destruction by Dudley Council of the 400-year-old oak tree that stood in Stream Road.

Ron is rightly concerned about Dudley Council's policy regarding trees and cites other examples of their handiwork.

I have seen a copy of the letter issued to residents near to the tree setting out the arboricultural officer's reasons for the removal of the tree and also an e-mail to one resident providing further information.

Amongst all the technical detail is one sentence which I think gives away the true reason for the removal of this and many other mature trees.

I quote from the e-mail " there is a requirement for the council to mitigate its liability.."

In other words the council has to protect itself against claims from compensation seekers.

So, Ron the fact is that no mature tree in Dudley is safe if there is even the slightest chance of its causing damage.

I doubt if even ten years ago the tree would have been removed.

It was another victim of the present compensation seeking culture.

JH Mearman Kingswinford