Council planners have given the go-ahead to plans to cut back a number of trees to make way for an improved public footpath to Kenilworth Castle.

The footpath will connect to the proposed new puffin crossing on Castle Road which Kenilworth Town Council (KTC) has been working towards.

After a number of sites were assessed, the crossing is hoped to be installed to the south of the ford, with English Heritage - which runs the castle - working to continue the link from Castle Road to the castle itself.

Warwick District Council has now granted planning permission for a number of tree works around the paths to bring them into wider use.

The two trees to be cut down (image via planning application)

Plans show trees around the crossing would need to be pruned back, and two small trees next to the footpath would need to be removed.

Raising no objection to the plans, a district council report said: "The proposed work will improve pedestrian safety without adversely affecting the character or visual amenity of the surrounding area."

The town council has already held a four-week public consultation on the project, asking for feedback on where the crossing should be.

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The council said there was an "overwhelming response" to the survey, which had among the most responses of any consultation it had run before.

English Heritage is working to complete the link to Kenilworth Castle (image via planning application)

"This particular works item is a direct request from local highways as part of the initial assessment and options appraisal for the proposed new crossing," the application said.

The crossing is expected to cost around £80,000 - exact details of the financing for the project are yet to be determined.

An update at a recent town council meeting said an application for funding from the Warwickshire Highways Community Action Fund had been made.

The crossing was included in the 2018 neighbourhood plan for Kenilworth.

See the full application here.