Thames Water has admitted to "removing" a tree in a Bucks town to make room for its ongoing pipe improvement works in the area.

Thames Water said it would plant saplings to replace a tree in Marlow that had been "removed" as part of the company's pipe improvement works. 

Alison Edwards, a Marlow resident and member of the local litter-picking group the Marlow Wombles, spotted a felled tree near the Marlow Rugby Club grounds while walking her dog in the area on August 24.

She shared her discovery in the Marlow Life Facebook group, writing that she was "very upset" to see that the "enormous" tree had been chopped down and suggesting that it might be linked to ongoing Thames Water works on the nearby Fieldhouse Lane.

A spokesperson for the utility company admitted that the tree had been felled in association with the pipe upgrading works that have been ongoing in Marlow since the beginning of June. 

They said: “We recently had to remove a tree by Marlow Rugby Club to carry out necessary upgrades to our network.

“The upgrades to our pipes include the instalment of two new trunk mains to store large quantities of water.

READ MORE: 'The only affordable store' in Bucks town RETURNS in new location

“We would like to assure residents that we will plant saplings to replace the tree and will continue to work with the local community and stakeholders whilst these upgrades are taking place to minimise any disruption to those nearby.”

It comes after another large tree in Pound Lane in Marlow was slated for felling by Buckinghamshire Council after it caught fire on August 17.

Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport, said the tree had been in a state of "managed decline" before it caught fire and also linked the decision to "remove" it to a prioritisation of public safety.

He add that the tree in Pound Lane car park would be replaced by a sapling planted by the council in a nearby location during the autumn or winter months. 

The former CEO of Thames Water, Sarah Bentley stepped down from the position in June 2023 following backlash after it was revealed the company's sewage leakage rate was the worst it had been in five years.

Alastair Cochran and Cathryn Ross currently hold the positions of joint interim CEOs at the company.