A TREE is at the centre of an inquiry costing thousands of pounds.

Developers want to cut down the sycamore at Hart Houses, Horwich, because they claim it is dangerous and is preventing the renovation of a derelict outhouse.

An inquiry was held into an appeal at the town hall on Tuesday after Bolton Council's planning committee turned down three applications to fell the tree.

Charles Mynors, counsel for K B Anderson architects, who own the site, told the inquiry either the building or the tree would be lost.

He said: "The tree has caused the outhouse to buckle and twist.

"The outhouse is so close to the tree, you could not rebuild it without further damage to the tree, or it would be so absurdly expensive as not to be sensible.

"It is our case that although it is nice to keep trees, the loss of visual amenity would not be great.

"The second problem is safety and a limb of the tree will eventually fall down."

But David Manley, QC, for the council, said: "This is a large and visible tree within a conservation area and its loss would mean a loss of visual amenity for the area.

"We have a different opinion on the health of the tree."

At the last hearing in September, one resident opposed the plan on the grounds that the tree would be a great loss to neighbours and is part of the history and natural beauty of the area.

Planning inspector Phil Grainger said he would have to consider the impact of the felling of the tree and the issue of safety. A decision is not expected to be announced until the New Year.

The cost of the one-day hearing is expected to run into thousands of pounds to cover the fees of barristers, experts and the loss of working hours by council staff.

Cllr Andy Morgan, of the planning committee, said: "I back our finding, but you have to question the amount it has cost the council to protect this tree."