A PARISH council is facing a David versus Goliath fight over the future of two large willow trees.

Masham Parish Council wants them felled but planners at Harrogate Borough Council say they should not only be retained but given tree preservation status.

The dispute began when the parish council made a request to fell the trees on the southern boundary of the town's recreation ground alongside the River Ure.

In their plea for the axe, Masham said felling was necessary because of damage being done by the roots.

But when no replacement trees were offered the borough council slapped a provisional preservation order on the willows.

Now, Ripon area planning committee of the borough council is being asked to make the preservation order permanent.

Harrogate planning official Dan Bastow says: "The trees are now classed as over-mature with a limited future lifespan of about 10 years.

"They form a backdrop to the recreation ground along with a number of other mature and semi-mature trees. They form a valuable part of the recreation area and are attractive in their own right. In their present position they do not present an obvious threat to property or people, neither are they blocking light," he says.

Masham parish council objects saying that drains on the recreation ground have become blocked by tree roots and there is a waterlogging problem, preventing use for school games.

But the borough council says because the drains have been repaired there should not be a repeat, provided they are maintained.

"No actual detailed evidence of tree roots being the cause of damage to the drains has been submitted to the planning authority," says Mr Bastow.