TREES impacted by a contentious wall at Belfast's Chinese Consulate need felled and trimmed "as soon as possible" as they are now a "health and safety concern", a senior council official has warned.
Stormont's roads department has written to the consulate, saying it is their responsibility to address the issue.
A mature tree is to be cut down and four others trimmed back due to damage from the perimeter wall built without planning permission, The Irish News revealed last month.
The required remedial works along Adelaide Park, off Malone Road in south Belfast, have since been confirmed in a letter from a senior city planner.
An application was submitted by Belfast City Council's arboricultural contractor to carry out the measures on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).
"As you are aware, the ongoing works at the Chinese Consulate has resulted in an impact to the street trees on Adelaide Park," the council official said.
The measures will "comprise a crown reduction to four street trees and the removal of one street tree, directly adjacent to the southern boundary of the consulate".
"The arboriculturalist's report confirms that the trees in question are currently a health and safety concern. Accordingly they intend to carry out the works as soon as possible," he added.
The official said the tree works request was being processed "expeditiously due to the health and safety concerns".
"Whilst I understand there may be some concern in this regard, the health and safety of the public using the road and footpath adjacent to these trees are of paramount importance, particularly with the autumn/winter season approaching," he added.
The wall construction caused uproar among residents who have staged protests outside the consulate.
The council had issued a 'stop notice' and 'tree preservation order', fearing the construction would cause damage to mature trees surrounding the consulate.
Legal proceedings were launched as construction continued unabated, but the High Court in June refused to order a halt after ruling it was protected by diplomatic immunity.
Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown expressed disappointment over the development.
"It's always disappointing to see trees removed but especially so as Belfast City Council is publicly committed to the 'One Million Trees' project, designed to make the city more sustainable," he said.
"These street trees pre-dated the Chinese Consulate and may well outlast them in Belfast and residents will be outraged to see them sacrificed."
SDLP councillor Gary McKeown last month called on the consulate to both pay for the required work and apologise to residents.
A DfI spokeswoman said: "Following the granting of permission by Belfast City Council planning office to carry out works to five of the department's street trees on Adelaide Park, the department has written to the consulate regarding the carrying out of the necessary works.
"The responsibility for carrying out the works to the trees lies with the Chinese Consulate."
The consulate is based at MacNeice House, a listed building which dates from 1889.
The consulate has previously defended the works, saying it wanted to build a wall that both meets its security needs and respects the character of the surrounding neighbourhood.
Read More: The 'ring of steel'
- Row over Chinese Consulate's 'eyesore' ring of steel
- Boy escorted from Belfast's Chinese Consulate after trying to retrieve ball
- Pressure mounts on Chinese Consulate over Malone Road 'ring of steel'
- Belfast's Chinese Consulate 'ring of steel' raised with Foreign Office
- Residents 'in the dark' over metal wall at Belfast's Chinese Consulate
