several associations protest against a “massive” felling of trees along the roadsides

Trees in danger. Several associations, including the Bird Protection League, protested against a planned slaughter “massive” of trees along the road announced by the Departmental Council of Haute-Marne for reasons of “road safety”. The LR president of the Departmental Council, Nicolas Lacroix, announced on Tuesday February 13 that 4,000 trees would be examined with a view to possible felling, adding that only sick or dangerous trees would be felled. This decision would be made “tree by tree”he assures.

“In some places, you don’t have the width of a rear-view mirror between the road and the tree” declared Nicolas Lacroix to AFP. In addition, some trees have grown so much that they also cause serious deformations to the roadway, he specifies.

In a press release published Thursday, the departmental council recalls that 10% of people killed in a road accident occupied a vehicle that hit a tree, based on the reports of the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory. “If it is necessary to massively cut down trees to guarantee the safety of our residents and road users, we will not hesitate”specifies the Department’s press release, referring to hedge plantings as compensation.