Chainsaw Massacre.

I was actually going to use this title before I realised the local paper has used it as well. 
Every autumn I stop on the way home from my swim to photograph this beautiful row of trees. The other day we noticed they had been severely pruned.
So did others as they hit the front page of the local paper this week. 
The council had engaged contractors to "remove some of the lower branches". By the time nine trees and been "reduced in size by more than half" a local resident had contacted council and the work was stopped.
The more distant trees appear to show what should have been done.

It is rather embarrassing for the council who apply draconian rules to anyone else who wants to trim, let alone remove, a tree. 
A council spokesman is quoted as saying "regrettably the pruning was more severe than intended", whilst the mayor commented that the over-pruning was "very disappointing".
Meanwhile a consultant arborist says the pruning showed a "callous disregard of council's own street tree master plan" and that "the ramifications of this.... will be felt for generations to come".
The contractors responsible declined to comment.

I think this is worthy of Silly Saturday. Thanks admirer for hosting.