Tree cut illegally
Council members have had enough with residents cutting down trees illegally.
A resident in Verwoerdpark requested that a tree be cut down on the corner of Braun Street and Second Avenue and after seven visits to council’s offices she had no luck and decided to do it herself.
According to the resident, council said that they had no funds available to remove the tree, but said nothing about it being illegal if removed personally.
On October 22 the company who she contacted started cutting the tree. Council member Beverly Small and her team stopped the process immediately before the tree was completely cut down.
“All trees which are on a pavement belong to council and residents need permission to even just prune a tree. Without our bigger trees there will be more pollution and less oxygen. We need to give council credit because they are doing their jobs,” said Beverly.
The resident was charged a fine of R500 for damaging/cutting a tree without consent. The entire tree had not been cut down and council members came to rescue what was left.
