A Dunedin woman hopes to stay the executioner's hand in a case she likens to The Lorax.
Normanby resident Saraphina Macandrew believes the Otago Regional Council is committing a ''brutal act'' by felling four cedar trees in Tannadice St.
''It seems totally unnecessary and it would be a total travesty for them to remove these trees,'' she said.
She was told the trees were to be removed two weeks ago, but as they were still standing she hoped to keep it that way.
''They deserve to be saved . . .''
She had hoped to create a covenant to protect the trees because of their age (40 to 50 years old), aesthetic and amenity value.
Cutting the trees down was reminiscent of Dr Seuss story The Lorax, she said.
In The Lorax the title character attempts to protect the environment against the greedy Once-ler.
She spoke to neighbours who also felt removing the trees would be ''gung-ho'' and others who felt there were grounds to save them.
''It's not necessary. It's just completely destructive,'' she said.
Otago Regional Council corporate services director Wayne Scott said the trees were being removed to make the neighbouring properties more ''marketable''.
''They are huge and they were shading other property ... We are intending on marketing soon. And marketing property with massive trees keeping the sun away isn't the best option,'' he said.
The council would replace the trees with ''something more suitable''.
As contractors were already in the area, as part of the Water of Leith flood protection work, the council was taking the opportunity to remove the trees, he said.
''Those properties are now surplus and we'll now be marketing them ... so we will be making them as attractive as possible before putting them on the market.''
