A CLERGYMAN is taking on Medway Council in a bid to stop it slapping a tree preservation on his rectory grounds.

The Rev Roger Knight says some of the trees on the woodland at Rochester Road, Cuxton, near Strood, are dangerous and need felling.

Mr Knight, vicar of the village's St Michael and All Angels church, is backed by parishioners, more than 50 of whom have signed protest letters to Medway Council.

Planning councillors will tonight (Wednesday) vote on whether to confirm the order which would affect hundreds of trees.

Mr Knight said: "The council have muscled in. The Church has owned the land for 150 years and we want to manage it without interference from them. A lot of my church congregation feels the council are behaving like arrogant bullies."

The vicar and parishioners also say that there could be liability for damage caused by trees and some are overgrown and too tall and sway "alarmingly'' in the wind. Others, they say, are unsightly and decaying and drop leaves, conkers and deadwood into neighbours' gardens.

Officers are recommending that the area development control (west) committee confirms the order. They argue that dead, diseased or dying trees are not included in the order and as for danger, the owner is responsible for having them checked by experts.

A TPO would not prevent appropriate remedial work or felling. The officers add that trees can safely grow higher than people imagine and need to sway in the wind to prevent breakage. They also insist that liability for damage rests with the landowner and regularly maintained trees will pose little threat of damage to people or property.