A MATURE tree is to be felled and others cut back due to damage from a contentious wall built by south Belfast's Chinese Consulate without planning permission.
Five trees along Adelaide Park have been affected due to root damage caused by the construction work, a councillor for the area has said.
The SDLP's Gary McKeown said he has been informed of the problem by council and Stormont officials.
He described it as "shocking" and called on the consulate to both pay for the required work and apologise.
"I understand that one tree will have to be removed entirely, and four further trees will have to be pruned back to the extent that their appearance will be completely transformed from the leafy canopy that currently exists," he said.
"These are mature trees, and the value of the one that will need removed has been estimated at £14,000, but of course in reality they are priceless."
For months residents in the leafy Malone Road area have voiced anger over the consulate constructing its perimeter wall, staging protests outside the building.
The city council issued a 'stop notice' on the works and a 'tree preservation order', fearing the construction would cause damage to the various mature trees surrounding the consulate.
Legal proceedings were launched after the work continued, but the High Court in June refused to order a halt after ruling it was protected by diplomatic immunity.
The consulate has previously defended the works, saying it hoped to build a wall that both meets its security needs and respects the character of the surrounding neighbourhood.
It is not known at this stage how much the felling and cutting back of the affected trees will cost.
Mr McKeown said: "These trees form an essential part of the character of the neighbourhood, so residents, and indeed people from outside the area, will be devastated and angry."
"We are now seeing the impact of this on the community, not only in terms of loss of natural heritage, but also the risk posed to health and safety," he said.
"I'm reassured that the authorities are treating this issue with appropriate priority, but it is extremely frustrating that there is little that can be done legally due to diplomatic immunity.
"However, it is essential that the consulate pays for both the remedial work that is required, and indeed compensates for the loss of the tree that needs felled. An apology to residents and the city generally is also due."
The consulate is based at MacNeice House, a listed building which dates from 1889.
A Belfast City Council spokeswoman said: "Council carries out tree surgery works on street trees as part of a service-level agreement with the Department for Infrastructure. Our team also provides advice and guidance on the care of street trees.
"Council staff have been liaising closely with DfI colleagues and have provided them with all the information they have asked for regarding these particular street trees."
A DfI spokeswoman said: "The department has written to the consulate regarding the street trees on Adelaide Park.
"Officials are also liaising with Belfast City Council, who maintain the trees on behalf of the department and are responsible for enforcement of tree preservation orders, to identify any damage to the trees."
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