CONCERN has been expressed over the removal of two old oak trees to make way for a company warehouse on the Exeter Road Industrial Estate in Okehampton.
The trees, which were around 200 years old and were the subject of preservation orders, were cut down by contractors last week.
Local businessman John Dawe, who trades on the industrial estate, said there were very few oak trees around now and these were two beautiful specimens.
'I realise this is an industrial estate and is not meant to be aesthetically pleasing but surely these trees could have been built around,' he said.
'There is enough land there to leave something that has been in existence for hundreds of years. It is a terrible shame.'
Landscape officer for West Devon Borough Council Suzi Allen, who opposed the planning application in January last year by Target Worldwide Express, said valid planning permission over-ruled any tree preservation orders.
The company were looking to re-locate from North Road and secure the future of 30 to 42 jobs.
'In 1998 a group of three oak trees were protected but this was revised to protect the one tree on the boundary in view of the planning permission so the others had to come down,' said Mrs Allen.
'It is always sad to see any trees go especially oaks because of their wildlife value but all I could do was make a representation to the council.'
In her comments to the planning authority last year Mrs Allen said the loss of the trees would have a detrimental impact on the landscape, leaving no screening of the industrial estate when viewed from the north.
But it was the planning officer's view that the economy of the town, which impacted upon the social aspects of residents' lives, must be viewed as the higher priority in this case.