A LANDSCAPE architect is to help save trees in Petersfield Square after hundreds of residents petitioned to save them from being felled.

The three maples were due to be cut down in autumn 2015 after East Hampshire District Council said roots that had grown up through cobbles were a dangerous rip hazard.

Within days residents’ protests put a temporary delay on the proposal; this was followed by a three hundred plus signature petition calling for the trees to be saved and the work was indefinitely postponed.

The Petersfield Society coordinated the campaign to save the trees.

Now East Hants District Council (EHDC), Petersfield Town Council, South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), The Petersfield Society and Hampshire County Council have combined to employ a landscape architect.

A spokesman for EHDC said saving the trees was one of the main aims if at all possible.

As well as resolving the problem relating to the trees, the architect will be looking at putting forward suggestions to improve The Square in line with the long term aspirations of the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan.

Funding for the architect will come from EHDC and developers contributions held by SDNPA, and it’s thought around £20,000 has been identified so far, said Chris Paterson, SDNPA’s community strategy lead.

EHDC Councillor Julie Butler said: “The tree roots remain a trip hazard but we’ve listened to people’s concerns about removing the trees completely.

“We will be asking the Landscape Architect to put forward a series of options based on our consultation with local residents and research on how people actually move around The Square – balancing our responsibility for public safety with the community’s aspirations for the area set out in the neighbourhood plan.”

Once the architect has finalised the options, there will be a public consultation on them, hopefully later this year, Cllr Butler added.

To help the architect, some groundwork has already been done, including gathering information about services under The Square such drains and sewers, and an analysis of how people use it.