Residents determined to prevent trees from being cut down in Garitsa

Local residents plus several from other parts of Corfu are protesting against the cutting down of trees in order to redevelop Garitsa Park. Protestors were on the street from early this morning holding placards saying "Redevelopment doesn't mean uprooting all the trees" and "An open park for everyone to take a walk and relax".





With a discreet police presence, workers are setting up a plastic mesh around the area but the president of the local association Alexandros Vergis says that if they attempt to cut down trees, they will take legal action. Regional councillors from the ANASA party Alekos Mihalas and Tilemahos Gavalas are also at the scene.


  
Residents also gathered at the work site yesterday morning and the contractor called the police and the Deputy Mayor for Technical Works Nikos Kalogeros to come and persuade the residents to leave the area.

Garitsa Park Cultural Society was in town last night calling on people to come to this morning's protest and placed a banner in front of the Municipal Theatre.