A petition has been launched in Groomsport calling on the Department for Infrastructure to reconsider plans to remove trees along Main Street.

The petition was discussed at the recent annual general meeting of Groomsport Village Association. John Weir, the village's In Bloom lead, said he noticed spray paint markings on several trees last year and contacted Ards and North Down Council.

Weir was referred to the Department for Infrastructure, which told him the trees were damaging pavements and that felling was the preferred option. He noted the trees were healthy and stated they were probably around 40 years old.

Weir said the Department based its decision on cost and did not deny that engineering solutions existed to protect both the trees and the pavements. He added that the village association had not been consulted before the plans were made.

The work has been delayed until after nesting season. Residents have collected several hundred signatures on a paper petition and plan to launch an online version.

Weir said the village association felt the decision undermined their work, noting that Groomsport was named Best Kept Large Village in Northern Ireland for 2025 and is representing the region in a national competition.

An Ards and North Down Council spokeswoman stated that the trees are owned and maintained by the Department for Infrastructure, not the council.