Give trees the chop residents

Mature oaks on a Masterton street are being cut back to address problems with leaf fall and roots lifting, but many residents on the street want them removed.

The council has surveyed residents in Cooper St about the Quercus oaks, and said while the majority wanted the trees cut down, the problems could be addressed with a reduction in canopy.

Residents have used red paint to mark out dangerous areas where the footpath has been lifted by roots.

One retiree said it was particularly dangerous for those walking at night. "In lots of places it's not level," he said.

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said the trees were beautiful but made life extremely difficult, particularly for residents at the northern end of the street.

"They might be great trees but they are entirely inappropriate for a small urban cul-de-sac."

She said the proposed work reducing the canopies would not solve the problem. "When the leaves are falling we are raking them up twice a day, it's a huge job."

Masterton District Council parks and open spaces task group agreed on a course of work to reduce the canopies of the trees.

In a statement, the council said there were issues with the scale of the trees in a small residential area, and concerns had been raised about shading, leaf drop, boundary encroachment and roots lifting lawns and footpaths.

Grant Hathaway, parks and facilities manager of Masterton District Council said the trimming of tree canopies should always take place when the trees are dormant, after the majority of the leaves have fallen.

Trimming roots may destabilise the tree, so instead the council would re-grade the footpath where it had lifted.

Mr Hathaway said the remedial work would take place before the end of June.

Works are also taking place on six large liquid ambers on Pownall St, between Cole St and Essex St.

The species are prone to drop branches and their size has resulted in encroachment onto private property, and a nearby carriageway and footpath.

Work to reduce the canopies of these trees began in 2010 and will continue over the coming weeks.