A Tory council has been forced to remove tarmac it poured over a set of beloved trees after locals voiced their fury.
A trio of cherry trees in south London’s Crystal Palace Triangle were surrounded with tarmac by workers acting on behalf of Croydon Council – only for the authority to U-turn days later.
Workmen arrived on July 31 to lay the asphalt around the base of the trees.
By the following Tuesday, the council had ordered steps to remove it after calls to protect the cherries.
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The initial works sparked concern among locals that the plants’ health could be damaged.
Residents who objected to the tarmacking have branded the episode a waste of taxpayers’ money.
One said: “Croydon council is wasting money yet again on hokey-cokey infrastructure. If only they had a coherent plan, strategy, or even just knew what they were doing!”
Another local took to Facebook to express their frustration.
“Mind-blowing incompetence… Or exactly what you would expect from the imbeciles that do this work,” they wrote.
The trees were fenced off at various stages during the process, adding to the sense of confusion surrounding the project.
The rapid U-turn drew particular scorn, with opponents viewing the entire sequence of events as an example of poor planning by the local authority.
Steve Reed, the local MP and former Housing Secretary, spoke out against the decision and urged the council to act.
Mr Reed said: “The council has poured tarmac over three beautiful cherry trees at Crystal Palace Triangle. I’ve asked them to take immediate action to save the trees.”
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Green councillor for Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood Mark Adderley also raised the alarm on social media.
“What on earth is going on here with these beautiful but fragile trees in Crystal Palace?” he posted.
“No discussion with local residents… no apparent consideration for the trees themselves… and aesthetically horrific… Can someone explain??? This has been raised at Croydon council as a matter of urgency.”
Fellow Green councillor Natalie Vesty also demanded answers.
“The council owes residents a clear explanation for these works and reassurance that the long-term health of these valued trees has been properly considered,” she said.
“The reaction from residents shows just how much these cherry trees mean to the Crystal Palace community. The fact that this work was carried out in a conservation area is particularly worrying.”
The work was carried out within a conservation area, a fact that only poured fuel on the fire for residents and local politicians.
Conway, the highways contractor employed by Croydon Council, undertook the tarmacking.
Neither the council nor the contractor appeared to have consulted the local community before proceeding with the works.
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