Mid Devon District Council has been accused of "wanton vandalism" for cutting down healthy trees on a busy road in Tiverton.
The authority said the four fastigiate hornbeam trees were felled at Lea Road, which runs through the Moorhayes estate, because they were beginning to outgrow their location and overlook nearby homes.
Pam Cornwell, who lives at Webbers Way, which is on the estate, is concerned more and more trees will be felled, turning areas into "concrete jungles."
She said: "The beautiful trees have been felled in Lea Road and they were not causing any impediment to traffic and looking at the trunks, there seems to be no evidence of disease, so why have they been taken down?
"To me, it is wanton vandalism. These are not the first trees to be taken down in the same road in the last couple of years. Who decides the fate of trees and why aren't we, the people who live here, not even told they are going.
"I, for one, am very upset. There are too few trees. Are we going to let Tiverton become a concrete suburban jungle?"
The trees were cut down at two separate locations at the west of Lea Road, between Bluebell Avenue and the Lea Road junction for Priory Road, on Thursday and Friday.
Paul Williams, head of environmental services at the council, said more trees will be planted along Lea Road to replace those that were felled.
He said: "Mid Devon District Council has taken the decision to remove four fastigiate hornbeam trees from Lea Road.
"The trees were in reasonable health but were no longer a suitable size for their long term retention in this area. This particular species of tree has very dense crowns.
"The species was originally chosen because it is one that can be planted in confined spaces but as the trees begin to mature, they outgrow the space and do not stay true to the intended shape, in that they become very broad.
"The remaining trees on Lea Road will not be pruned or removed but enhanced with additional, more suitable replacement planting. In the longer term this will improve the tree stock in this area of Lea Road," he added.
