Residents demand public meeting to discuss tree felling

PLANS are in place for a public meeting to be held early in March to discuss the future of the beloved Jacaranda trees which line Ferguson Road in Glenwood.

According to resident, Illa Thompson, the municipality is in the process of cutting down the Jacaranda trees in the road, which she said seems to be part of a larger campaign to eradicate Jacarandas in the neighbourhood.

Another concerned resident, Mary Thomas, who has been in telephone contact with the horticultural department of the city, said the department did not seem to want to engage with residents.

“They are saying that they will be cutting the trees down anyway, and we have no say in the matter,” said Thompson.

According to Thompson and Thomas, to the best of their knowledge, Jacarandas fall under Section Three cateogiries in terms of Invasive Alien Plants: Management and Control, published by WESSA KZN (2008). This means plant species that have amenity value may no longer be planted, propagated, imported or traded, and existing plants may remain. Putting it in context, the women said alien plants are categorised from Section One, the most invasive to Section Three, the least invasive.

“Trees seem to have been earmarked to be cut down along Ferguson Road. We understand that if a tree is visibly rotten and dangerous, of course it needs to come down, but we would prefer for the City to trim our trees to avoid them being at risk in heavy winds and spray them for termites or red ants rather than simply have them felled. We have already lost three trees as they were too top heavy,” said Thomas.

Thomas said two of the trees in the road were cut down this month after residents were told the trees were damaged and had to be removed.

“So far work to cut down the other trees has been halted as I understand these are heritage trees and are protected as they are around 80 to 90 years old.”

“It is apparently a criminal offence to cut down heritage trees. If they are rotten, I can understand this, but the residents want actual proof that they are going to fall. I didn’t see anything wrong with the two trees that were cut down this month,” said Thomas.

Thomas moved to Ferguston Road after living in the Western Cape, and said one of the reasons she fell in love with her property was because of the beautiful trees she saw as she turned into the road. She said during the annual Halloween celebrations in the road, residents hung decorations in the trees, which added to the atmosphere.

“I feel if the trees are cut down it will affect our property values.”

“Firstly, the trees make the road so beautiful and add value to our properties, and secondly if the trees are cut down the stumps will be left,” she said.

Residents want the city to plant new trees in the place of the ones which have been removed, and request the Jacaranda stumps be removed as they are unsightly. The residents, who have met with the city to discuss a way forward, feel a public meeting is necessary following what they described as “miscommunication and contradicting information supplied by municipal departmental representatives.”

They are hoping the city will provide a map with clear indication of which trees the municipality intends cutting down, and are requesting an explanation and extent of cutting or removal on each tree. They also want proof that trees are hollow and are asking for readouts provided by scanning equipment which are in the possession of the city. They also want an independent assessor to verify the state of the trees and a management plan indicating replacement trees and indigenous types for Ferguson Road.

Residents have informed the municipality that stakeholders are prepared to apply for a court order to halt the cutting of trees and all legal costs will be for the municipality’s account.

The proposed date for the meeting is 9 March at 5pm at Berea Bowling Club.

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