A council investigation has been launched into whether a patch of woodland in Weston has been cleared illegally.
Workmen have been on site, in The Weal, over the past few weeks and have felled a large number of trees.
An application was submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council last year and approval given for the removal of around 50 trees on the plot.
However, local people are concerned that the tree surgeons have gone too far and believe the local authority is not being tough enough with enforcement.
Catherine Robinson, 35, who lives near the site, said the sudden disappearance of the woodland had taken everyone by surprise.
She said: "Everyone is really upset because this is where people walk their dogs through, we have all bought our houses here because we were surrounded by these trees.
"The first we knew of it was when they started cutting them down. It is so frustrating because we are unable to do anything until it is too late."
Councillor Colin Barrett (Con, Weston) has been in contact with the council to try to get to the bottom of what is going on but has had no luck so far.
He said: "What's making me cross is that no action is being taken. A notice was being put up telling them not to do anymore work and it is being blatantly ignored.
"If this was a normal householder doing something like this then the local authority would come down on them like a ton of bricks."
Mr Barrett said he was also concerned about the impact the loss of trees could have on flooding in the area.
An application to cut down around 50 trees was submitted to B&NES Council in April last year and approved without objections.
However, a new application was put in last week specifically mentioning three ash trees, one field maple, three cherry trees and one plane tree. A decision on that is expected to be made in June.
The name on both applications is Sheila Sparrow, however when the Chronicle contacted her she said it was nothing to do with her and she did not want to make a comment.
Tree surgeons working on the site told the Chronicle that any trees removed illegally had been chopped down by local people sneaking on to the site.
This has been denied by those living in the area.
A B&NES spokesman said: "The council is carrying out an on-going investigation into the removal of trees at this location.
"If anyone has information as to whom is responsible for these removal works, please contact the council in writing at the following email address planning_enforcement@bathnes.gov.uk."
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
