Bermuda National Trust hit out last night after a cedar tree it rated as one of the top 20 to survive the blight was cut down to make way for a sidewalk.

But Works and Engineering, which carried out the felling, said the owner of the property where the tree stood requested the sidewalk be built past his home and had asked for the cedar to be axed after it became unsafe.

The tree was cut down near Lines Food and Liquor Market on Ord Road, Warwick.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott said the tree became unsafe after the sidewalk construction left its roots exposed and the owner asked for it to be cut down.

And he said technical officers discovered that if the tree was to remain, it would eventually begin to undermine the wall being built for the sidewalk, making it unsafe.

National Trust director Amanda Outerbridge said yesterday: "It is devastating that a magnificent part of our natural heritage should be destroyed in this manner."

Mr. Scott said: "The owner had the tree on his property and when we put in the sidewalk (which he he requested) it exposed the roots and the tree became unstable, and he decided he wanted the tree cut down because he wanted the sidewalk.

"All Works and Engineering did was to accommodate his wish. The owner has the right to decide whether the tree remains or is removed. Although there is a moratorium on the removal of cedars, the owner has the right to remove them.

"The Conservation Officer (Jeremy Madeiros) would like the public to know that if a tree is removed, we would like the owner to replace like with like."

Mr. Scott said the public wanted the sidewalk for safety reasons and there was no other option that would have saved the tree.

"We considered all the options. If there was any way to save it (we would) and of course we regret it, but we have to balance the safety of pedestrians and the owner's request against the tree.

"If we had said we would not extend the sidewalk onto the road, people would have said Works and Engineering have refused to put in a sidewalk."

Ms Outerbridge said the National Trust received angry telephone calls all day yesterday about the felling.

"Of the estimated 500 remaining old cedar trees (ie, pre-cedar blight) in Bermuda, this is one of the top 20 in terms of health," she said.

"Since it was endemic, that means the world. It was a landmark and its destruction has left the area devoid of trees.

"Surely something creative could have been done to work a sidewalk around the tree, if that was the reason for it being cut down.

"In other parts of the Island this has been accomplished. Bermuda is a leader in terms of our biodiversity study and just released biodiversity strategic action plan.

"This plan has the full support of the Ministry of the Environment - and the Government. And yet another arm of Government, Works and Engineering, is able to go out and do something like this.

"It is so upsetting and we really need to take action to protect what remains of our natural heritage soon. Apart from anything else, we don't want our roadside landscape reduced to concrete and utility poles."