Trust wants trees saved

Press, 12 October 1985, Page 9

Trust wants trees saved

The Christchurch Civic Trust wants the 22 threatened trees in Bealey Avenue retained. A board member of the trust, Mr Robert Watson, said yesterday the trust believed that the Christchurch City Council should prove the trees were a danger to traffic before deciding to fell them.

“It seems that the parks department of the council is having to prove that they should stay. It should be the other way round,” Mr Watson said. The trust believed the trees were of cultural and historical significance and should be saved, he said. He acknowledged that if it were proved the trees were a traffic hazard they should be removed to make way for proposed right-turning lanes. The trees were not included on the council’s own

protection list because they were not on private land, Mr Watson said. He said the trust was disappointed that the council had suggested felling the trees without seeking public comment on their future. The council has not yet made a decision on the proposed road reconstruction which would necessitate the trees being felled. A report on the proposal will be presented to next month’s parks and recreation meeting.