Tree-top demo halts felling

Ian Douglas climbed the tree with a ladder

Contractors trying to cut down a tree at an old rectory in Cardiff were forced to stop work after demonstrators stole their ropes and climbed the tree.

As the tree feller tried to scale the trunk two elderly ladies grappled with him, snatched his rope and tied themselves to the railings.

Another protester at St Catherine's Rectory in the Pontcanna area of the city scaled the tree with a ladder.

Later Cardiff Council said they were imposing an emergency preservation order on the trees.

Police were called to the site at Romilly Crescent early on Monday where around 20 demonstrators were gathered and work was halted.

Glenys Ormond Thomas and fellow protester Lilian Boden are both in their late 70's.

Two elderly women bound themselves to the railings

"They were using the rope to get up the tree but we've grabbed," said Mrs Ormond Thomas.

"They can't get to the branches to cut them without the rope.

"They started cutting down the trees on the weekend but we managed to talk them out of it."

Demonstrators say they have applied for an emergency preservation order for the trees.

They claim the house behind the trees, which has recently been bought, has been stripped over the weekend of roof tiles and inner furnishings.

We're just waiting to see if they obtain a preservation order and if they do the workers will leave the site Security manager Adrian Mottran

Cardiff councillor Paul Mitchell joined the protesters in their attempts to save the trees.

"I am applying for an emergency tree preservation orders now, the paper work is due down here soon," he said.

"The building is of local interest classification but it is very low grade protection which doesn't protect it from demolition.

"I am fuming, I am sick to death of scorched earth development.

"There are too many buildings of interest which are not being secured properly and are being set on fire.

Struggle

"Land prices are so expensive in Pontcanna the only way to develop the area is infill.

Adrian Mottran, manager of Specialist Security, the company which is protecting the site, said: "We were told to come here at 0600 this morning and we were told there was no preservation order on the trees.

"I explained to the protesters that if they went on the site they would be trespassing and if they stayed on the pavement they would be obstructing.

"As the tree cutter went to throw his rope over the tree the elderly woman grabbed the rope and bound herself to the railings.

"It was quiet a struggle.

"We're just waiting to see if they obtain a preservation order and if they do the workers will leave the site."