'Big Yellow Taxi' protest on trees' remains

Councillors are stumped

An environmental protest message has been etched on the stump of a tree cut down in a Devon town to make for road-widening.

The words ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ were written on the remains of the tree alongside Newton Road in Torquay. The phrase is the title of a 1970 environmental protest song by the Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell.

A number of trees have been cut down for work to widen the highway as part of the ‘Torquay Gateway’ scheme designed to improve traffic flow on the A3022. Torbay Council says the removal of the trees was necessary for the work and they would be replaced.

The song lyrics include the lines “They paved paradise to put up a parking lot”  and “They took all the trees, and put ’em in a tree museum / And charged the people a dollar and a half just to see ’em”.

Mitchell said she was inspired to write the song on a visit to Hawaii when she opened the hotel curtains to see mountains in the distance, then looked down to see a huge car park.

Torbay Council said: “The trees are being removed as part of the highway widening scheme that is underway and deemed necessary in order for these improvements to take place. The scheme is part of the larger ongoing local transport project, known as ‘Torquay Gateway’, which includes improved road junctions and cycle links, creating better access into the town from the northern boundary of Torquay.

“Part of this scheme includes investment for replacement planting in and around the surrounding areas, so any trees that are removed will be replaced as part of the project.”

The widening between Shiphay Lane and Lowe’s Bridge is the final stage of the improvement project for the northern route into the town. Grass verges and land next to the railway line will be used to provide at least two lanes in both directions.