AROUND 30 trees have been felled around the former home of the renowned Knutsford architect Richard Harding Watt.

Residents say that the ambience of The Old Croft and the surrounding area, where homes can sell for as much as £2million, has been ‘changed forever’.

A spokesman for Cheshire East Council told the Guardian that the tree felling has not been approved and an investigation has been launched.

She added: "We are aware of the current situation with regards to tree felling being carried out at The Old Croft, Legh Road.

“Trees that are felled and pruned in contravention of Tree Preservation Orders is a matter that we take extremely seriously."

An ancient hedgerow has also been removed along Croft Lane as well as the alley running from Croft Lane to Legh Road.

Richard Harding Watt, who died in 1913, designed many of homes in Croft Lane and Legh Road in the early 1900s and lived in The Old Croft.

He also built The King's Coffee House and Gaskell Memorial Tower.

“It seems a shame that the history of the area in now treated with such scant regard by the powers that be, but I suppose attitudes just filter down from central Government,” said David Gattie, of Croft Lane.

Mr Gattie also said that the pets’ graveyard has been demolished in The Old Croft.

He captured a picture of a gravestone with the name Boy etched onto it, leading to speculation that this was the final resting place of Mr Watt’s dog.

Mr Gattie added: “Can we expect more of the same in what used to be a conservation area?”