Tree-cutting stopped by citizens group

The head of a citizens group says the public should have a say in landscaping decisions that have an impact on the look of the city, even if it's on private property.

About 50 people from the Moncton Treekeepers stopped crews from cutting down about a dozen trees along Mountain Road in front of the Castle Manor Retirement Home Saturday.

Organizer Frederick Leidemer said the tree removal began Saturday morning and nine trees had already been lost before the group confronted the workers.

"It's just horrible, none of these trees were diseased in anyway," said Leidemer. "I counted the rings on one tree, this tree was 80 years old, solid wood right through to the centre of the trunk."

"There was no reason to cut these trees down, this puts like a huge gaping sore in our cityscape."

Leidemer said he wants Moncton council to pass a bylaw requiring private property owners get permission from the municipality before trees can be cut down.

He added that an agreement with the contractor was reached and no more trees would be cut until city officials can be notified.

RCMP were called in to keep the peace during Saturday's confrontation, but no arrests were made.

"I guess it was tense at first, I think the workmen were surprised by the number of people who turned out and the forcefulness of our intent of saving the trees," Leidemer said. "People immediately climbed into the large oak tree to protect it and made it clear that nobody was going to cut down anymore trees."

Neither Castle Manor Retirement home or the contractor were available for comment.