A fresh row has broken out over plans to fell a row of trees dubbed Chestnut Avenue on Tooting Common.

Independent surveys found the trees were in “serious decline” and, after a public consultation, Wandsworth Council planned to remove them.

But now the campaign to save them has been boosted by a new report claiming the trees are “recovering” and have “the potential to live for at least several decades and many for much longer”.

Tree consultant and specialist in heritage tree assessment Jeremy Barrell was behind the report. He concluded: “My assessment of the trees is that none are dangerous, none are dead, and most have the potential to be retained with limited intervention for decades.

“Wandsworth Council are justifying the removals on the basis of responses from a public consultation and the advice of experts.

“From what I can see the public consultation approach is obviously flawed and none of the expert reports advocate felling and replacement as the best or only option”.

Tooting’s Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan has claimed the council has been “economical with the truth about the health of the trees” and has written to the council asking them to halt the felling plans.

She said: “It’s clear now that the council’s wish to cut down this beautiful avenue was motivated by money.

“Because a grant to fell and replace the avenue was available from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Council thought it could save a quick buck rather than use Council funds to properly maintain and preserve the existing, well-loved, avenue.”

In response, Wandsworth Council’s environmental spokesperson Councillor Johnathan Cook described the move as “hypocritical and opportunistic”.

He said: “Sadly these trees are in terminal decline and if we don’t do anything they will pose a growing threat to the many people who walk along this pathway every day.  

“Already we have seen the collapse of a whole tree last year without any warning, and several large branches fall.

“Our plan, backed overwhelmingly in the public consultation last year, is to plant a new replacement avenue that will last the next 150 years and give our children and grandchildren the same wonderful gift the Victorians gave to us.”

Almost 5,000 residents have signed a petition asking the Council not to fell the trees and regular protests have been organised by the #StoptheChop campaign.