Felling trees along the side of the railway line has left the clearing looking “like a bomb site”, according to a nearby resident fighting to save the remaining trees.

Joy Durban, 87, has lived in Bunbury Way near Epsom Downs train station for nearly 25 years.

The 40-foot trees lining the tracks and bordering her garden are a valuable part of the neighbourhood, she argues, and encourage wildlife to thrive.

But Network Rail spokesman said the trees “pose a significant safety risk or are likely to cause delays to passenger journeys”, and need to be cut down.

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Joy was told they were due to go down this week, but they are still there.

She is determined to keep the trees for the benefit of the local community and local wildlife.

“It’s part of my environment,” Joy said.

“I have squirrels in my garden and all the birds you can name all nest up there.”

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She added: They’ve cleared the rest of the grassland that was there.

“Now it looks like a bomb site behind my house.”

Mike Ford is chairman of the Epsom and Ewell Tree Advisory Board, a partnership between a group of volunteers and the council to improve and maintain the welfare of trees in the borough.

He said: “As long as it is done sensitively and with a proper plan, we can’t be against that.

“We have to secure the railways for people to and from their work.”

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Managing and removing trees close to the railway is essential for the safe and reliable running of the railway.

“In this instance, the trees are being removed as they have the potential to pose a significant safety risk or are likely to cause delays to passenger journeys.

“We do understand the impact rail services can have upon local communities living directly next to the railway and work hard to reduce this impact.”

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