Trees get reprieve, for now

LAURA RICHARDS/Rangitikei Mail

BIG BLACK BOOK: Marton Ward resident Clare Wishart with her big black book filled with responses to her informal survey about the trees in Marton's CBD.

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Marton resident Clare Wishart's phone rang hot for more than two weeks as people told her how they felt about trees in Marton's central business district being chopped down and replaced.

On November 16, Miss Wishart took the big black book filled with responses to her informal survey to the Rangitikei District Council.

The book is to be tabled at the full council meeting on Thursday by council chief executive officer Clare Hadley.

By the end of last week, Miss Wishart had received 53 calls and emails with people's personal views and solutions about the trees, which have been said by Marton police to interfere with the view of two new security cameras in Marton's Broadway.

While the numbers of calls and emails had grown over the last week, the percentage of people wanting the trees kept remained at 97 per cent, she said.

"To see all of your views collated together is a marvellous community effort," Miss Wishart said of the people who responded to her informal survey. "Well done."

She said about one per cent of the Marton population called or emailed her during a two-week period.

On Saturday Rangitikei mayor Chalky Leary said a practical solution needs to be found for the trees, which "look lovely at the moment", and the cameras.

"We certainly won't be touching the trees until after Christmas," Mr Leary said.

"And if we can find a practical solution, we may not take them away."

Mr Leary said it has been discovered that the trees had been planted into concrete tubs when set into the ground. This may have taken care of some of people's concerns but he wondered if the roots may be root bound like other pot plants.

There was also a concern that the trees may fall over. "We're not going to pillage the trees," Mr Leary said. "It may be that replacement is the best solution."

The mayor said among the few residents who contacted him about the issue, was Project Marton chair James Allan who expressed concerned about the trees. Mr Allan has aired the view of Project Marton in a letter to the editor on page 2.

Mr Leary said the trees first came to the attention of the council in a management report in August.

"We knew it would be a contentious issue then," he said. "The councillors at the meeting decided to send it to the Marton Community Committee to decide."