Palm trees saved from composting after outcry

Two palm trees on a seafront in Dorset have potentially been saved from the compost heap after complaints from campaigners.

The trees had been installed on Weymouth's esplanade in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic sailing events in the town but were only meant to be temporary.

Weymouth Town Council proposed removing the two largest ones and replacing them with smaller varieties, as they were "causing structural damage to the promenade".

However, campaigners have won their fight and attempts will be made to relocate the palm trees elsewhere in the town.

The town council argued the plants had grown significantly, damaging its stonework planters and pushing out roots, making the area around them uneven.

The authority's environment and services committee voted to repair the planters and replace the trees with smaller cabbage palms at a cost of £10,000.

During the meeting it was stated the "cost of trying to relocate the trees and the uncertainty of them surviving means that disposal... is the best option".

It added: "The trees would be removed and composted."

But one campaigner said: "Trees are not just for Christmas, the Olympics or for a while.

"They are for life, let's keep them and treasure them."

Councillors agreed they should be replaced with more palm trees, similar to those further along the promenade, as they "would still have visual impact".

A spokesperson added: "We will also be repairing the stone planter which houses a different palm tree further along the promenade which was damaged last year when a vehicle collided with it - that tree will stay in this location."

The council will now attempt to find a new home for the trees in the town, but have been warned by officers it is a difficult task to uproot and move them.

A final decision on the budget for the work will go to a full council meeting at a later date.

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