‘WE’RE NOT LEAVING UNTIL TREE IS SAFE’
Neighbours stage protest to protect sycamore:
TWO neighbours holding a sit-down protest to save their road’s only large tree have said they will not leave from underneath until its future is secure.
Sue Bradshaw, 61, and Monica Linthwaite, 59, live on Poltair Road, Penryn and have a clear message for Cornwall Council’s contractor Cormac who arrived to cut the sycamore down: “Leave our tree alone.”
The pair recently learned the tree had been deemed “dangerous” by Cormac and was due to be felled.
When they heard the sound of a chainsaw revving they rushed out and saw a Cormac worker up the tree beginning to prune it, who told them he had been sent to take it down.
Ms Bradshaw and Ms Linthwaite chained themselves to the tree, before the workers left and yesterday the pair took a more comfortable stance, bringing out chairs, a blanket and plenty of reading materials.
Ms Bradshaw said she thinks the tree is “beautiful” and needs protecting. “It’s been here long before the houses around here were built, and we’re here on this chilly day because look at what’s happened. It has been with me for 30 years, ever since I lived here, and Monica’s been here 59 years. You can’t just cut down a beautiful tree like this.”
Ms Linthwaite said her reasons for protecting the tree were personal: “I was born in this house, and my Dad built me a rope ladder in this tree.
“It’s beautiful, I don’t mind them cutting bits off which are rotten, but there’s no need to cut it down.”
She added that it’s the only large tree on the road.
Ms Bradshaw said she had tried to get a Tree Protection Order (TPO) to stop it being chopped down.
However, she added: “The wheels of justice and Cornwall Council take a long time to turn, and Cormac said it’d be too late by the time the order comes.”
Cormac attempted to move the pair off the site and left at around midday yesterday.
Devon and Cornwall Police said it was not aware of any police-related incidents on Poltair Road.
Corserv, which runs Cormac, has been contacted for a comment on the situation.