One hundred residents halt the felling of the 17 trees in Villalonga Square in Palma

PalmAround a hundred residents halted the municipal tree felling work on Thursday at 18beautifulshadows of the Llorenç Villalonga square in Palma, which the City Council intends to remove because the trees, between 60 and 80 years old, are diseased and pose a danger to the safety of pedestrians and children.

The residents gathered at 7 a.m. and, an hour later, formed a human chain in defense of these trees and demanded that the Palma City Council (Cort) make public the technical report justifying the felling. The residents are calling for the protection of this green space by the sea and are proposing alternatives such as closing off the area and devising a gradual plan to create a garden in the space. The president of the Calatrava Residents' Association, Edita Navarro, stated that she is aware that the trees present "some danger," but maintained that there are "many ways" to prevent it, as has been done in Seville.

This Wednesday, residents sent an email to the mayor, Jaume Martínez, requesting "security, time to develop a plan, and information." The City Council maintains that the replacement of the 18 trees is based solely on technical and safety criteria due to the risk of them falling.

Six trees were already felled in 2024. phytolacca Cort pointed out that the structures showed defects and pathologies that posed a risk to the public. As a precedent, in November 2019, a foreign woman died on the Palma city walls when, while walking to mass with her family at the Cathedral of Mallorca, the top of a palm tree fell on her due to the wind.

Court does not give up on logging despite opposition from residents

Palma City Council is proceeding with the felling of the 18 beautiful shade trees in Plaça Llorenç Villalonga despite opposition from residents. According to Edita Navarro, president of the Residents' Association, a municipal worker arrived shortly after the felling and removed the signs announcing the planned tree removal. However, she indicated that no municipal worker has yet been to the square to remove and replace the trees. Municipal sources told Europa Press that there was no fixed date for the operation and that they have until January 9th to complete the task. Therefore, they maintain that the felling has not been canceled. The City Council, they stated, is waiting to receive all the necessary machinery and the replacement trees to proceed with the replanting as soon as possible.