Axes foiled again

Wanganui District Council chief executive Kevin Ross (centre) talks to tree protesters. PHOTO/ MERANIA KARAURIA

Council contractors who went to Wanganui's Taupo Quay at 6am yesterday to fell plane trees were thwarted again.

They found black sashes around four of the condemned, cars intentionally parked underneath them and 18 protesters with placards.

Police were called, and some in the group thought they would be arrested. Instead Sergeant Damon Evans contacted Wanganui District Council chief executive Kevin Ross, who came to talk to the protesters.

The protesters want to keep six 130-year-old plane trees on the east side of Taupo Quay between Market Place and Victoria Ave.

The council wants to remove them to make way for a trench for electricity, gas and internet services.

The work is part of a revamp of that part of town, before the relocated Sarjeant Gallery opens there in April. The revamp will include a narrowed road, 40 new angle car parks and new plantings of New Zealand trees.

Resident Marie McKay was upset because two of the plane trees are outside her buildings and she was not consulted. She stopped the felling on the previous Sunday by appealing to Wanganui's mayor.

She and others met council officers last Wednesday, to talk through the issues.

Mr Ross understood the felling of four trees was agreed to at that meeting, leaving Ms McKay's two in case a way could be found to save them.

"At this stage we believe we have the processes right and if we do need to do this we will be coming down and asking the police to stand alongside us," he said.

Ms McKay said she had not agreed to any of the trees coming down at that meeting, but another person did.

A council meeting was to be held at 10am today for people with an interest in the trees.