The Christchurch City Council has voted to remove council-owned silver birch trees due to allergy problems.
Some residents say the pollen spread by the trees causes an allergic reaction and have fought to have them removed from outside their homes.
Today the council agreed to remove any council-owned trees, provided that a doctor confirms the trees are the sole cause of a person's allergy.
It voted to split the cost evenly between the council and the affected resident.
Before the vote, it was noted by councillors that the policy would do nothing to address pollen spread by silver birches on private property.
The Canterbury Medical Officer of Health has already noted that grass caused more allergic reactions than silver birches.
Councillor Jamie Gough noted there was no proposal to remove grass in Christchurch.
