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Residents fear losing trees to parking

South Western Times

Bunbury's Lovegrove Avenue residents do not want to lose the big pepper trees on the road verge in an overhaul of the Bunbury Primary School’s parking.

‘‘The street should stay as it is, it is a beautiful street and that is why we chose to live here,’’ resident Pam Mickle said.

‘‘When the cricket is on the kids sit up in the tree to watch and it’s great because you see all these figures in their whites up in the branches. We don’t want to lose that.’’

The school has advised neighbouring residents of a draft parking strategy which aims to address concerns about increased parent parking and vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian traffic in the area.

As part of the strategy Lovegrove Avenue would be redesigned as a one-way street and the trees would be removed to provide additional angled parking bays.

Mrs Mickle has pinned ‘‘SAVE ME’’ signs to the trees, estimated to be up to 80 years old, in protest of the proposal.

‘‘We don’t see the traffic or parking as a problem and the street is only busy during the morning and the afternoon,’’ she said.

City of Bunbury director of works and services Phil Harris said the school had approached the council with the strategy but no decision had been made.

Mr Harris said the removal of trees for the installation of additional parking bays was unlikely.

‘‘The validity of the strategy now needs to be assessed by the council to determine if it is considered acceptable,’’ Mr Harris said.

‘‘If the strategy is determined valid, the council will then undertake its own investigations, which will include consultation with the relevant stakeholders.’’

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