News / Montpelier
‘Lawlessness and anarchy’ pits neighbours against each other in Montpelier
Speaking over the noise of trains rumbling by, neighbours have been coming round to Christian Martin’s house in Montpelier for a cup of tea and a chat to lament the loss of an embankment of trees close to their local railway station.
There have been more cuppas than usual since Wednesday and Thursday last week, ever since residents living on Cromwell Road grouped together to hire a tree surgeon to remove the trees.
Claiming that the trees were blocking their views and reducing light in their back gardens, the residents paid to have them cut down without permission from Network Rail and without consulting those living in the area.
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“I’ve had people coming round my house for tea all day mourning the loss of the trees,” Martin told Bristol24/7 at his home on St Andrew’s Road.
“We are unilaterally mortified. They have taken the law into their hands. It is self evident destruction.”
The trees were chopped down close to Montpelier railway station
Film director Martin, a former Lib Dem city councillor, suggested that the actions of his near neighbours across the other side of the Severn Beach line reflected the state of the country post-Brexit and the way people feel like they can do what they want now without regard for others.
He said: “The trees can be replaced but the damage to relations between residents will take a lot more healing. People are shocked that other people could behave so recklessly and selfishly.
“The deracinated debris of what was there is emblematic of the destructive nature of Brexit and perhaps a metaphor for the direction the country is going in.
“Lawlessness and unilateralism leads to anarchy which nobody wants.”
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A Network Rail spokesperson confirmed that they did not give permission for the work in Montpelier to be carried out.
“Safety is our priority and nobody is permitted to access the railway unless they have the proper permission. We are currently investigating this matter.”
One frustrated female resident told Bristol24/7: “They were intent to get it done no matter what the cost. It’s a real shame, there was so much wildlife and it’s noiser now that we’ve lost the sound barrier. They lied, or at least withheld the truth.”
On the train platform taking photographs of the destruction on Monday afternoon was a former resident who readily shared his bafflement at the situation.
“It’s extraordinary,” he said. “Everyone assumed the work was official. It doesn’t look any better.”
“The trees can be replaced but the damage to relations between residents will take a lot more healing”
Read more: 18 things you didn’t know about Montpelier
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