England footballing hero Kevin Keegan and his neighbours have emerged victorious in their bid to have seven ‘nuisance’ trees outside his Cheshire mansion axed.
The former Newcastle United manager, 74, as well as his next door neighbours were embroiled in a battle with fellow locals who opposed the ‘wholesale’ cull of the 60ft-tall sycamore trees
A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) was placed on the 50-year-old trees outside of the row of houses, including Keegan’s before they were constructed.
The Liverpool legend and his neighbours applied to their local councils for the ‘decaying’ trees to be axed to the ground, however concerns for magpies and other birds were raised in opposition to the plans.
One opposing local had even submitted a recording of birds, including blue tits, Magpies, robins, and blackbirds to the council in a desperate attempt to save the trees, The Sun reported.
Another said in a letter that the protected trees had always provided a ‘welcome’ and ‘natural habitat’ for a ‘wide diversity of animals, especially birds’ for several years.
They also argued the trees provided privacy and shade in the summer months, and that their view would be impacted by the removal of the trees which, according to them, had ’caused no real problems at all’ over the last four decades.
One objector described the possible felling of the trees as a ‘wanton removal’, adding: ‘After all the trees were there long before the houses were built.’
Despite the opposition, Keegan and his neighbours won their bid to have the ‘dead’ trees felled to the ground.
And although Trafford Council have given the green light for the trees to be axed, they have ordered for new trees to be planted in their place.
‘The sycamore trees proposed for removal are all in poor condition, most have areas of dead bark on the lower stem, structural weaknesses in the crown and poor leaf budding rates,’ they said.
‘Decay is evident in several previous pruning points and these trees are likely to become hazardous in the near future if they remain.’
The former Newcastle boss, who was nicknamed the Mighty Mouse, first moved into his five-bedroom Cheshire home in 2002.
He has since had two dormer windows, a rear conservatory installed as well as a loft conversion.
During his glittering football career, Keegan won two UEFA Cups, three Division One Championships, as well as a European Cup while at Liverpool.
The 74-year-old also won the Ballon D’Or two separate times.
His latest victory comes after he exclusively revealed to MailOnline that he became a major figure in English football thanks to George Best.
