THE continuing saga of the tree-replanting scheme proposed for Cherry Tree Avenue in Haslemere looks set to drag on.
After months of debate, including discussions on the political content of consultation letters distributed to residents, talks look set to continue.
Having agreed on a letter to send out to residents, the town council began to dicuss what type of tree would be suitable for the avenue.
But now councillors need more time to decide what species to replace the Cherry Trees with.
It's almost one month since the town council asked residents on the avenue if they wanted to adopt a tree sapling outside their home.
Members of the planning and highways committee agreed to look into the cost of tree species. But they will have to wait for a response from Surrey County Council.
The "adopt-a-tree" scheme was suggested by councillor for Shottermill and resident of Cherry Tree Avenue, Mark Lelliott.
Since his suggestion, there has been a fierce debate over the content of the letters that were distributed to residents and discussion about the type of trees which could be suitable for the area.
The cherry trees growing on the avenue began to suffer from the effects of honey fungus some time ago.
Although Surrey County Council agreed to remove the diseased and dying trees, they refused to fund tree replanting.
It was at this stage that councillors agreed to send letters with reply slips to residents on the avenue, asking them whether they would consider making a donation towards the new trees or "adopting" a sapling outside their home.
Of the 70 residents on the road to receive the mailout, 14 responded positively.
Mr Lelliott said: "This is a very good response to this type of questionnaire style letter. It is usually expected that only 10 per cent of people who receive such letters will respond at all."
The debate now centres on what kind of trees should be replanted on the avenue.
There is concern that cherry trees cannot be replanted in the area because they are very susceptible to honey fungus, a disease which is relatively common in the area.
But some residents have stated they would prefer to adopt cherry trees over any other species.
At a meeting of the planning and highways committee, suggestions to consider planting mountain ash, pear, plum and ornamental hawthorn species were made by acting chairman, Ted Orchard.
He said they were all more hardy than the cherry trees and had attractive appearances.
Mr Lelliott said that he was concerned about replanting other tree species because some residents said they would not support the scheme unless cherry trees were replanted.
But James Mackie said: "We know from experience that the conditions on the avenue are not ideal for cherry trees.
"They have life spans of around six to seven years and are not very hardy at all.
"I suspect that most of the people who replied would not think that we should be bound by the name of the avenue."
The committee agreed that quotes from landscape gardeners should be obtained for various species of saplings and that it should wait for a further response from Surrey County Council.