HASLEMERE residents could be asked to "adopt a tree" as a way of keeping a tree-lined avenue in the town alive.

The idea comes as Surrey County Council was forced to cut down several trees in Cherry Tree Avenue because of honey fungus disease, but have no funds to replace them.

Now the town council is to write to every resident in the road to ask householders to bear some of the cost of replanting the missing and diseased trees and provide a bit of TLC to help them thrive.

Chairman of Haslemere Town Council's planning and highways committee Michael Foster told town councillors at last Thursday's meeting that Surrey County Council "had opted out of responsibility" to replace the trees.

"If we can get the residents to agree to replanting, maybe the town council can offer some financial assistance," suggested Mr Foster.

Mark Lelliott, who lives in the road, made the adoption suggestion to the planning committee after hearing that young trees have a particularly low survival rate because of damage from disease, climate, and vandals.

Town councillors were told that cherry trees in the area were especially vulnerable to attack from honey fungus, a disease which attacks the roots.

But Mr Foster quipped: "I think we are stuck with cherry trees because the road is called Cherry Tree Avenue."

Mr Lelliott said: "If the residents can keep an eye on the tree outside their house, it will give them a feeling of ownership and the trees will be more likely to survive."

The committee is keen for residents to become involved in caring for the trees, and as the avenue does not have a residents' association, it was decided that tree adoptions would be the best way forward.

Michael Biddiscombe, a member of the planning committee said:

I deplore the fact that SCC doesn't have the money - residents pay their council taxes and in principle it should help the planting to occur.

"I think we should do our best to help with the re-planting because as a town council we can show we are concerned about the appearance of Haslemere," he said.

Concerned about setting precedent, Mr Biddiscombe believed it was not a reason not to proceed with the proposal.

Town councillors agreed to seek further advice from Waverley Borough Council's tree experts and look into the possibility of matched-funding schemes for replacement trees. It also agreed to draft a letter from the town mayor to be delivered to residents in Cherry Tree Avenue.

Mr Lelliott said after the meeting that some 15 trees had been cut down in recent years.

"Some neighbours are very upset about the appearance of the avenue. When trees get to maturity they should be replaced," he said.

Mr Lelliott believed with some 75 houses in the road, he estimated the cost at around £5 per household.