BOSSES at a sixth form college in Winchester have had their knuckles rapped after felling 33 trees without permission.

The felling took place as part of a redevelopment scheme at Peter Symonds College, which is planning on building a new learning resources centre on its land.

In February the college took the decision to cut down 33 trees that were on the site without telling planning chiefs at Winchester City Council.

At a meeting of the council's Planning and Development Control Committee, which was discussing the building plans, officers said that though none of the trees had preservation orders on them, the college ought to have consulted with them.

One of those critical of the college's actions was Conservative councillor Anne Saunders, who said that the felling had left several of the college's neighbours extremely upset.

Liberal Democrat councillor Therese Evans also criticised the college for not providing any warning.

"I was on the site the day of the hurricane, and those trees survived that," she added.

Planning team leader John Hearn said council officers were equally unimpressed by the college's conduct.

He said: "We seriously considered imposing a tree preservation order on every tree on the college's land."

However, this idea was abandoned after the principal, Neil Hopkins, wrote to the council and stated that no more felling would occur without their backing.

The committee then heard details of the latest part of the redevelopment scheme for the college at Bereweeke Road.

They gave permission for a temporary classroom to be moved about 50 yards to make space for a learning resource centre.

Members heard that the plans for the new building were likely to come before them in May or June.

The college also applied to demolish Varley Lodge and Varley Cottage, two old buildings on the site of the proposed centre.

College bursar David Warren said the cottage was surplus to needs and the lodge was too costly to renovate.

Officers stated that as neither building was listed or in a conservation area, the college could demolish them without permission, and members then approved the plans.