Angus Ellis, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We have been monitoring the spread of ash dieback in Bretton Woods since 2013.

“It is especially worrying in this area, as ash trees make up the majority of the three forests.

“Action needs to be taken as the forest is likely to become too dangerous for public access.”

It added: “Alternative approaches to those specified in the plan could have a significant landscape impact or significantly restrict public access to the adjacent site, causing marked deterioration of wildlife habitats within the woodland.”