Trees

I had a cool post in mind on "rules" for todays post, related to cycling and LIFE and also how I have not moved desks.  But Shit - remember, if you have been following the plot, how I had a dream the other night about all the trees on my property disappearing?  EEK.  Tonight I walked home from work, and half the trees down my street have been cut down.  So, here's my letter/email to all councilors and the mayor I have just sent.

This is spooky - I have never ever had one of these preemptive type dreams :-) Spooky!

It was on the cards a year or so ago this was going to happen, but I didn't realise - until my dream the other night it would seem) this is happening - in my street.  I'm now kicking myself, beause I vowed at the time I was going to make it my community "cause".  But I didn't.  I became complacent,

I spend some of my working life, writing to "nutters" and the public.  But this is the first time I have written to "people in office.

trees.  Yeah I feel passionate about them,but also democratic process and all that.

So here's my email:
Kia ora tatou

Tonight when I walked home from the railway station I noticed all the trees on one side of my street have been cut down.

I don't recall getting any notification in my mail, or letterbox re this.  I don't attend council meetings or always read the local newspapers, so how am I supposed to be informed?  At the very least, if a council decision has been made to proceed to cut all the trees down in my street, you know, as a ratepayer, I would expect to get some form of notifciation as for the rationale.

I recall there were discussions on the matter because of the drainage, but I had not realised it was going ahead.

Basically, I think it sucks.  Big time.  Where does this policy fit with the landscape policy?

One of the reasons I purchased my house in Wyndham St 7 years ago was becasue of the trees - and now they are just cut down?   

Will the tree outside my house be cut down tomorrow while I am work?  What I am I supposed to do?  Suck it up?  or stay home from work and loose a days pay?

Basically, I suspect there is little I can do now - especially now one side of the street has had its trees chopped down.  However, could you please let me know if:

a) there was a council vote on this matter, and if there was whether you voted for the trees to be cut down.

I certainly wont be giving you my vote if you did vote to have the trees chopped down in furture elections, no matter what the logic, becasue you did not consult me.

Oh yeah, and if my tree is going to be cut down tomorrow while I am work, I would like the wood left on the property as even though it will pain me to use it for firewood, I think I at least should have that option.

I intend to live in my house and Carterton for the rest of my life - it is a good community.  I have to say though, this kind of Council action, really makes me question how the Council operates in terms of following some basic communication and consultation with 'affected' ratepayers.

I know how these things work, so don't really expect answers to my questions - although I really do want to know whether you supported the decision to cut the trees.

In summary, two words: Really disappointed.




Nicola Chapple
3 Wyndham St