by Peter Barnett

A demonstration against plans to cut down trees in Pierremont Park in Broadstairs is to be held this Sunday.

Under the proposals to build the new £2 million community centre in the park, 20 trees are facing the axe and protesters say the replacement plan is flawed.

Norman Thomas of Thanet Action Group described it as "a tree massacre" and added: "People are outraged by the whole idea. Pierremont is an incredibly small park "losing twenty trees will scalp the place."

Broadstairs and St Peter's Community Trust recently won planning permission to build the new centre. It has pledged to replace the trees by planting semi-mature ones - but Mr Thomas denied this will be any compensation for the destruction proposed.

He said: "The only places the new plantings can take place will be in open ground used for games. They won't last five minutes. The council has given the go-ahead to nothing less than a desecration of one of Broadstairs' few remaining green public spaces.

"This isn't just an issue for Broadstairs. Thanet as a whole has lost vast numbers of trees and green spaces in recent years, mostly to private development. This is environmental vandalism of the worst kind - committed by our elected representatives, with our money."

Anger over the new proposal has led to the revival of the Thanet Action Group, first set up to oppose the Westwood Cross shopping centre, of which Mr Thomas was one of the founding members.

The demonstration will take place at 11am with people meeting in the wooden shelter in the park.