A beloved old maple tree in downtown Duncan will be chopped down to make way for a parking lot despite public outcry, officials confirm.
The tree, which supporters say is centuries old, had been deemed unsafe and was earmarked for destruction so crews could repave the lot at the Island Savings Centre.
Protesters fought back by chaining themselves to the tree and claiming the Cowichan Valley Regional District had no authority to cut it down.
But officials said it was dangerously close to limb or trunk failure, posing a safety risk for anyone walking near it.
A public meeting was held July 11 to try to quell protesters’ concerns, but on Tuesday, the Island Savings Centre Commission confirmed it would come down.
Members of the public have been invited to join a group to discuss what will happen to the tree’s massive trunk once it’s cut down, and to find other ways to honour it.
Details will be provided in the near future, according to the CVRD.
