A THIRD generation local believes the community did not 'stand up and do enough' to stop the felling of the Anderson Street trees this week.
Ange Berry lives behind one of the largest London plane trees that was cut down on Monday and said she felt a sense of dread during the hour before.
"I am feeling pretty gutted that's for sure," Ms Berry said.
"The tree hasn't gone yet, but it's next to go and it is a terrible feeling."
Ms Berry was critical of other locals who had accepted the decision of Inland Rail to remove the trees.
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"People may well say that you can't stand in the way of progress; but what is real progress if you just approach it with a scorched earth policy?
"You just can't keep knocking down these trees, the plane tree is bomb proof, they don't lose branches so they are safe.
"Mine has a diameter of 18-and-a-half metres, and I will lose all that shade, today.
"If I was looking to buy a house, I would much prefer buying a house with a great big shady tree.
"Just how much hotter is our street going to be?
"We will have a metre of nature strip and the rest will be asphalt and concrete.
"The streetscape is going to be completely changed."
Ms Berry aimed criticism at those in the community who she believed had not spoken up enough.
"Unfortunately there is so much apathy around that people are sitting on their hands and thinking 'well it is going to happen anyway'.
"We needed - and we still need - the majority of people to start stepping up and say 'this is not good enough'."
