The felling of an indigenous tree sparked a protest in front of Graham Hotel on High Street on Tuesday. Rhodes student Jennifer Bam organised the action against the felling of local trees.
The felling of an indigenous tree sparked a protest in front of Graham Hotel on High Street on Tuesday. Rhodes student Jennifer Bam organised the action against the felling of local trees.
Disgruntled Grahamstown resident Anna-Karien Otto said, “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.”
“As business people, we are trying to rejuvenate the area but we are addressed as the villains,” said Graham Hotel owner Peter Repinz. Repinz said he is a nature lover and is involved in nature conservation and relocating indigenous trees on his game reserve opposite Thomas Baines.
He 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.
In front of Mr Price and PostNet other offending trees caused sewer pipes being rerouted because they were blocked by the roots.
He asked 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.
Makana parks and recreation department officer, Kevin Bates, said a public notice in Grocott’s Mail on 27 February advised the public that 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”.
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.”
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.
