ENVIRONMENTAL charity The Greensand Trust is inviting people with an interest in the development of the former district council depot in King Street, Leighton, to a special site meeting today (Wednesday).

Part of the site is being landscaped to create more public open space beside the River Ousel footpath and wooden bridge.

The meeting, which starts at 10am, has been called to help resolve the future of conifer trees screening the sewage pumping station next to the river.

A survey showed that some people thought the trees were too tall and overshadowed the area making it "dark and scary" and should be felled.

Others want them to stay and some want new "prickly" shrubs planted to screen the pumphouse and deter vandals.

But, you can't please all the people all the time and the trust is hoping the meeting will leave the least number with the needle.

Trust project officer, Malcolm Oliver, said: "The trust does not lightly remove trees.

"We checked with the various experts and the conclusion was that the conifers were oversized for the site and that we couldn't just take a couple out as they were grown too close together and consequently are not of good shape to stand alone.

"We have also tried to see whether Anglian Water could do anything to improve the look of their site within the new open space but they cannot find funding from their operational budgets to make any changes so the onus is on us to do our best to try and screen the site from view as best we may.

"The trust has taken professional guidance from people such as the district council tree officer in agreeing any proposals, but at the end of the day we want to take action that properly reflects the balance of views of local people."

Access to the site is by the Riverside Walk path from Plantation Road or West Street.