CONCERNS have been raised about a decision to chop down scores of trees on the site of a new £23million school in Maryhill.

Glasgow councillors approved plans for the school at Queen Margaret Drive – to fill a gap left when Wynford Primary School closed in 2009 – at a meeting in June.

But, as work on the site gets under way, nearby residents have questioned why so many trees have to be removed, branding it “overkill”.

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said trees had to be cut down to allow work to take place and insisted a “large number” of new trees will be planted once the development is complete.

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One neighbour said he understands some trees need to be cut down but felt developers had gone too far.

“There’s going to be enough noise and pollution,” said Maryhill resident John Hancox. “For some of them it might be necessary but they seem to have gone for complete overkill.

“It seems bizarre – and really quite sad.”

He said local residents, and North Kelvin Community Council, had not been warned about the plan to chop down trees and felt it had been rushed through before any opposition could be mounted.

Residents raised concerns about the lack of information on tree-felling associated with the development at a community council meeting last week.

City council representatives have now been invited to the community council’s September meeting.

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In a Facebook post, North Kelvin Community Council said residents want someone to “address concerns about the lack of notification to the community and lack of engagement following the approval of the school plans”.

The new school will serve almost 380 pupils and will include an 11-a-side 3G pitch and games area. It has been planned to provide a new facility to accommodate Glasgow’s soaring population.

The number of people living in the city has risen from 578,000 in 2001 to 626,000 in 2018, increasing the demand for more non-denominational schools.

A council spokeswoman said: “In order to prepare the site for the £20m new primary and community school campus in Maryhill, a number of trees have had to be removed to allow construction work to begin.

“A large number of new trees and shrubs will be planted as part of the completed works and there were various community consultation events and neighbours bordering the site were notified by letter of where to view the detailed proposals.”