THE fate of a century-old village yew tree will be decided next week.

The village hall at Cleasby, near Darlington, is undergoing refurbishment, so the committee running the project has examined the building's environment.

The tree has stood on the north-eastern boundary of the car park for 100 years, but there is concern its condition may pose a threat to the hall.

The village hall committee approached Richmondshire District Council in April to establish if it needed permission to fell the tree and was told it was not protected by a preservation order.

However, a dispute began on June 2 when a tree surgeon arrived and began to lop branches, prompting calls to Richmondshire District Council for the work to stop.

The council agreed to an Emergency Tree Preservation Order to allow time for a thorough examination of the yew's condition.

Since then, the village hall committee has demanded the tree is felled because the work already done means it is more likely to topple over.

However, a meeting of Richmondshire District Council's environment and planning committee has been called on Tuesday, at 5pm, to settle the issue.

A report to committee members accepts the tree is showing signs of age.