The felling of an indigenous tree in front of Graham Hotel on High Street on Tuesday triggered many disgruntled students and residents to protest in front of the building.
The felling of an indigenous tree in front of Graham Hotel on High Street on Tuesday triggered many disgruntled students and residents to protest in front of the building.
Rhodes student Jennifer Bam organised the protest because “they are cutting down indigenous trees all around town”. Grahamstown resident Anna-Karien Otto expressed her anger: “It’s always people first and trees and buildings last.” Rhodes student Matthew von Abo expressed similar sentiments: “It’s all about economic incentive versus trees.”
Graham Hotel owner Peter Repinz confessed to being a nature lover himself and is involved in nature conservation and transplanting indigenous trees on his game reserve opposite Thomas Baines.
“We are actually with the green people. As business people, we are trying to rejuvenate the area but we are addressed as the villains,” he said. Repinz explained some of the many problems the large Erythrina Caffra (coral tree) has caused him.
"The pavement has been broken up because of the roots,” he said. The roots and fallen leaves and seeds have blocked storm water pipes, causing water to flow over the pavement.
The roots have also caused problems with the foundations of the building. Other offending trees, in front of Mr Price and PostNet have led to “sewer pipes being rerouted because they were blocked by the roots”.
He has been asking the municipality to do something about the situation for years. “One has to reach a balance between being a tree lover and the effects that can cause serious injury and problems to people,” said Repinz.
Kevin Bates of the Makana parks and recreation department said a public notice in Grocott’s Mail on 27 February advised the public that various trees on High Street, including Church Square, would be relocated or cut down for various reasons.
“Vigorous root growth that has reached a point that walkways are now a hazard to pedestrians and the removal of the offending bracing roots would destabilise the trees to the extent that they would pose a threat to life and property.”
Repinz said that many guests had fallen and hurt their ankles because of the uneven pavement and overseas visitors might even sue the municipality, which “can cost millions”.
In the notice, the municipality acknowledged the emotive concerns that might be raised and promised to “replace these trees with more suitable specimens, having once again given due consideration to maximum size available, costs, etc.”
Bates said provision has been made to fund replacement trees. "There are intentions, but there is no time frame as such" for the tree outside Graham Hotel.
This is because Repinz has put in an application for a porte-cochere (covered drop-off area) to be built in front of his hotel. Once this is built, the municipality will plant trees to the left and right of the structure.
