Trees get the chop

TIMBER: Arborists remove honey locust trees on Gardner Place. A resident has organised a working bee to cut up the wood to be distributed to elderly residents for next winter. Picture by Paul Rickard

THE removal of 11 honey locust trees on Gardner Place went ahead yesterday, leaving residents divided in opinion.

Homeowners in the cul-de-sac named “best kept street in Gisborne” in 2004 could not agree on whether the trees should be removed.

One of the trees was on the property of Joan Lewis, a resident of 11 years. She was happy to see the trees cut down because she found they “serve absolutely no purpose whatsoever”.

The roots of the tree would run underground and pop up where she planted her vegetable garden.

“I would come out with the spade and have to chop away at the roots. They steal all the nutrients in the ground and all my fertiliser.”

Ms Lewis also got fired up about how seed pods and leaves from the tree would collect in her roof spouting and on her lawn, which she would have to rake before mowing. She also had to regularly sweep the front porch, stairs and driveway of leaves and seed pods “up to three times a day when its autumn”.

“I call the council to ask for them to bring the street cleaner but it might be a few days before it comes.”

Among those against the trees being cut down was Wendy Miller, whose partner has owned a home across the road from the trees for 18 years.

“There’s a few of us that didn’t want the trees cut down. There’s been two meetings with the council and we had to give a written submission to say why we didn’t want the trees removed.”

Residents received letters regarding the tree removal but she knew of some people who didn’t see any notice.

“We were out there this morning hugging the trees before the workers came. We got a good photo, too, but we didn’t chain ourselves to them. They are so beautiful and green when the leaves are on them and they give good shade. It’s just very sad.”

Resident David Lynn said he didn’t have a tree on his property but was for the removal.

“When you see what the people that have them on their section have to deal with, you’ll understand. The seeds pods the trees would produce could get up to almost 30 centimetres long. They would weigh the branches down so much they would be scraping your windscreen as you drove past.”

Mr Lynn said the council would frequently be called in to unblock the street drain of foliage when it rained.

“I’d say there’s been a lot of money go in to unblock drains over the years and that’s probably ratepayer money.

“I feel for all the elderly that live in the middle because they’re the ones having to rake before they mow, clear out their spouting and deal with it the most.

“We don’t want the street to be divided about it so I’ve organised a working bee with other residents to split the remaining wood for the elderly for next winter.”

Ms Miller said the council planned to plant kowhai trees in place of the removed trees. She would chase them up on that if she did not see any results.