Sharon Lee Siew Kiang, Today Online 15 Nov 07;
Residents sad that those in park got the chop
The Government's move to set aside $700 million to develop new parks and enhance existing ones, such as East Coast Park and the Botanic Gardens, should be applauded. While this initiative targets mostly large parks, the need to preserve the greenery in smaller parks should not be overlooked.
Over the weekend, I was shocked to find workers chopping down several mature trees (picture) in the small park at the junction of Bishan and Braddell roads.
When I called the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council, I was told the trees that had been chopped down were Albizia trees. These were the same species as the one that had fallen on a woman at Bukit Batok Nature Park in May and a contractor the Town Council had engaged, recommended the trees be felled.
While I am saddened by the woman's death, I wonder if that unfortunate incident, which is a rare occurrence, makes it necessary to chop down all the trees of that species.
These trees have been in the park for more than 30 years. They help to block noise and dust from vehicles that use the neighbouring Braddell flyover, and provide shelter for residents from the afternoon sun.
What's even more puzzling is the fact that the Town Council intends to build a family park in this area, and called a meeting with the residents on July 21 to discuss its plan.
During the meeting, new plans for the park were unveiled which showed that the existing trees would be conserved.
This was done after the residents had voiced their opposition to having most of the trees removed, as called for in the original plan.
I would understand perfectly if the trees had been removed if they were diseased or infested with termites.
However, chopping down healthy mature trees because of the possible risk they present displays a blatant disregard for residents' wishes and the need to save the environment.
I hope the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council and the National Parks Board can provide some answers. Couldn't they have taken some preventive measures to save or transplant the trees instead of chopping them down?
Why cut down big trees to build family park?
Letter from Lai Yoke Kwai (Miss), Straits Times Forum 17 Nov 07
AMID the call for a clean and green Singapore, we are felling big, beautiful and healthy trees to build a family park so that we can play basketball, skate, jog, etc, among man-made nature.
The proposed park is located along Braddell Road, next to the junction of Braddell Road and Bishan Road.
After some residents objected strongly to destroying the greenery, the project was scaled down and the town council promised to plant 10 trees for every one that is felled. However, this is little consolation because the trees felled were more than 20 years old (they were already fully grown when we moved in in 1988) and it takes more than 10 years for the new saplings to grow to considerable size.
Though I do not know the names of the birds that are living in the area or come resting at different times of the year, I have spotted at least nine types among the trees, and squirrels running on the branches.
It is ironic to destroy beautiful, fully-grown trees to build a park. I am quite sure the new plants will be lined in straight rows and stand X metres apart. Singaporeans just can't leave trees and plants standing haphazardly.
A number of the old trees were cut down last Saturday. Is there something someone can do to stop further destruction?
Trees felled only as a last resort
Today Online 15 Nov 07
Letter from Suhana Kharudin
Manager, Media Relations, Land Transport Authority
We refer to the letters, "Whither the trees" by Albano Daminato and Lisa Garris (Nov 6) and "Where once there was greenery ..." by Carlyn Law (Nov 8), on the trees around Cross Street.
We share the writers' concerns for our greenery and would like to assure them that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) makes every effort to preserve trees. Where possible, trees that have to be cut will be replaced by new ones.
The trees mentioned by the writers are directly affected by the construction of the Downtown Line Cross Street Station.
Prior to felling these trees, the LTA explored whether there was any alternative to their being felled. This is a standard process for all cases of roadside trees affected by development projects.
In this case however, there was no alternative given site constraints at Cross Street.
Work on the underground station has to be conducted within the space of the existing five-lane road. The road had to be diverted to the planting strip to improve safety and enable the continued smooth flow of traffic. There was no other space left in the area to replant the trees and shrubs.
Once construction is completed new trees and shrubs will be planted around Cross Street.
We thank the writers for their feedback.
Trees cut down infested by insects
Reply from the Town Council, Straits Times Forum 17 Nov 07;
I REFER to Miss Lai Yoke Kwai's letter, 'Why cut down big trees to build family park?' (ST, Nov 17).
Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council would like to emphasise that the recent felling of trees at the park is not related to the construction of Bishan East Family Park.
The affected trees were of the Albiza species. The Albiza tree, classified as soft wood, is brittle in nature and has shallow roots. It is very prone to infestation by wood-boring insects. Once the wood has been infested, the tree will be weakened and has to be removed.
Our horticulture specialist discovered during an inspection that termites and other wood-boring insects had attacked the trees in the area mentioned. In the interest of our residents' safety, we decided to remove the affected trees.
Lee Boon Leng
Executive Manager
(Corporate Services)
Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council
Links
Why were trees cut down?
Letter from Albano Daminato and Lisa Garris, Today Online 6 Nov 07;
and LTA's response to this letter
