New twist in Swansea promenade tree chopping mystery as newly-planted pines found
THE Swansea tree chopper mystery has taken a bizarre twist, with newly-planted pines found along the promenade.
Around half a dozen of the evergreens have materialised at the same location as the nine or so trees that were felled or hacked near the Blackpill skate ramp.
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destruction The damaged trees on Mumbles seafront.
And in another development, Swansea Council workers have discovered damage to a 50 foot silver maple right by the promenade, opposite Llwynderw Drive in West Cross.
Council chiefs believe the culprit or culprits may have been disturbed, as the damage does not warrant the felling of the maple.
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Overnight on Monday, a 45ft ash was targeted and left with a couple of inches of intact trunk, leaving it in danger of crashing to the ground in a moderate wind.
The authorities are currently at a loss to explain the vandalism, but would like the public's help in apprehending those responsible.
Mumbles Tourist Information Centre manager Sue Butler condemned the culprits for damaging arguably Swansea's finest stretch of foreshore.
"We think it's appalling," she said. "We can't believe someone is doing it. This is an iconic view."
Referring to the damage to the silver maple, a council spokesman said: "It may well have been that whoever started cutting away was disturbed before they could do too much damage."
He added: "We need the public's help to catch whoever is responsible for this spree of mindless vandalism. It's not an overstatement to suggest their actions are endangering lives because the trees are being left hanging over popular spots with pedestrians and cyclists.
"We're being forced to cut them down because they could topple over at any point. We'd urge anyone with information to contact the police."
He added: "If anyone wants to plant trees on our land, we'd ask them to contact us first so we consider their request and give advice."
Mayals councillor Linda Tyler-Lloyd said she felt the culprit or culprits needed help.
She has condemned the vandalism.
"It's sad that people have to be so destructive," she said.
Self-styled Post reader tawse57 wrote on Evening Post website www.thisissouthwales.co.uk that something similar happened in Dorset a while back, resulting in a conviction. "I hope the police take this crime as seriously as the police in Dorset took it and that they find and prosecute this person or persons," they said.
Another dismayed resident, Janet Joseph, who spotted the damage while walking her dog, said she could not understand why anybody would want to destroy the trees.
If you can help, phone police on 101.
5 Comments
by bennyhill4
Thursday, March 07 2013, 11:44AM
“arnoldlane, so you think that there are hundreds of trees in singleton park that are in a dangerous state?, but still you walk there? stupid or what.Of course the trees there are not any more dangerous than in any park in the country”
by tawse57
Thursday, March 07 2013, 9:51AM
“Trees are the lungs of our city arnoldlane - they also add beauty and charm.
I think the council does a good job managing the trees in Singleton and often see branches being trimmed or removed if dangerous. But this is completely different to someone cutting down trees on the prom - either the person doing it is unbalanced or has some agenda IMPO. As I posted earlier, I think it probably property price and greed related IMPO. That is my guess.”
by arnoldlane
Thursday, March 07 2013, 9:39AM
“There are hundreds of trees in Swansea that are dangerous , people get killed by falling branches, Take a walk in Singleton and see how many trees are a danger to the public.”
by arnoldlane
Thursday, March 07 2013, 9:37AM
“Swansea city council wont fell trees unless they are dangerous quoting no money.
We live in a cul de sac with trees and everyone wants them felled but the council say no they are not dangerous but wont let us fell them either.”
by tawse57
Thursday, March 07 2013, 9:19AM
“I am convinced that this is someone local who is looking to increase the value of their property - just like that chap in Dorset who was eventually caught and prosecuted last year.
They have to be local as well as they would need to keep an eye on whether the prom and nearby road was deserted or not. I walked home from Langland to Sketty last Sunday morning about 2 in the morning and from the road pavement you can still clearly see the prom even at that time. If someone had been on that part of the prom at that time then I certainly would have seen movement or shadows moving, and probably have heard something, so whoever is doing this must be able to watch and see when the Mumbles Road is completely deserted.
Having said that it is disturbing to think that there is some person wandering around the prom in the dark with some axe or saw or even a chainsaw. What would this person do if discovered?
Are the pines planted trees that will grow to a lower height than the tree chopped down? That might be a clue to the location of the culprit.
I feel so angry about this as some selfish so and so is altering the character of the prom and, worse, damaging trees that have been there for decades.”