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Woodland protesters win chainsaw face-off
Katie Davies
TREE lovers in Golders Green have defied construction workers armed with chainsaws in a bid to protect valuable woodland.
Transport bosses say they need to chop down 100-year-old trees near Golders Green tube station as a security measure.
They say the trees must be axed so staff can walk round the perimeter of the station to make security checks in the wake of the London terrorist attacks.
Tube staff also fear would-be terrorists could use the vegetation as cover to reach the station.
Residents in Rotherwick Road, which borders the woodland, stood in front of the trees to stop the work last Saturday.
And they say they will repeat their protest this weekend.
Judy Goodikin, who lives in Rotherwick Road, said: "Staff at the station thinks it exists in a capsule and that it has no neighbours.
"That is a misleading way of looking at it. We love our houses and we chose this spot to live in a woodland.
"The trees have been there for 100 years and they are alive with wildlife. It is shocking not be consulted or involved."
Residents say workers started pruning the trees shortly after the July 7 attacks and promised not to return until later this month.
But tree surgeons returned at the weekend armed with chainsaws.
Benedict Roth, who also lives in Rotherwick Road, said: "They say it's for health and safety reasons so they can walk around the perimeter, but there is no reason to cut down a large number of trees.
"We got them to stop again but they are coming back this Saturday.
"There is a park at the back full of birds and wildlife and these guys are wantonly slashing away. It is corporate vandalism."
The work is being carried out by contractors Alstom on behalf of Tube Lines, which is responsible for the Golders Green depot.
Alstom spokesman Malcolm Cowling said: "We have a responsibility at the station to maintain maximum security and safety.
"Part of that involves looking at perimeter fencing and surrounding vegetation and we have to cut back vegetation in case people use the vegetation as cover to gain entry to the site.
"There is a high awareness of the need for security on the underground at this time.
"We have contacted the council, the police authorities and some wildlife people so we are quite satisfied; we are also communicating with the residents."
A spokeswoman for Tube Lines has promised residents that the trees will only be cut back rather than chopped down
She said: "We will cut back the trees by about 30 per cent.
"We try to work closely with residents but security and safety are our top priority."
editorial@hamhigh.co.uk
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