Hundreds of trees set for the chop as flight museum moves planes indoors
Hundreds of mature trees are set to be chopped down so four planes can be moved into a new hanger at the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian.
Plans for the visitor base and exhibition centre reveal an area 40-metres wide will need to be cleared at East Fortune.
A total of 299 trees will be felled if the plans are approved, although nearly 800 new tress would be planted.
The move has angered local residents who say that other sites could have been considered which would not require the destruction of the woodlands.
The Woodland Trust has also objected, pointing out that there would be 'direct loss of irreplaceable ancient woodland'.
The museum’s architects say other sites on the current museum site are protected, as the airfield it is sited on is a Scheduled Monument.
In their report on plans for the new centre they say that three of the historic planes on display at the current museum site need to be brought indoors to protect them.
They will go on display in the new centre, alongside Concorde, which is currently in a hangar at the museum.
Planning officers are recommending approval of the plans, which received 13 objections.