A charity worker suffered a head injury when police tried to remove her from a protest against trees being felled in a Cornish seaside town.
Debs Newman, 60, was “bearing witness” to the loss of three mature lime trees in Falmouth when she was seized by officers.
Newman, who said she had never been in trouble with the police, fell to the floor and hit her head, leaving her needing treatment from paramedics.
She said: “It all happened so quickly. I think someone had my arms, someone my feet. I heard a crack and my head hit the pavement. The next thing I remember was being in an ambulance and a paramedic asking me questions. It was such a shock. Everything was quite blurry. It felt like an assault.”
Cornwall council said the trees in Trelawney Road needed to be removed because they were causing damage to the road, pavement and nearby property.
But Newman, a member of the Stop the Chop protest group in Falmouth, said there had not been enough consultation. She added: “We’re worried this shows there’s little protection for street trees. This could happen all over the country.”
She said she had known the trees all her life. “They are very much part of the community. They are great trees,” she said. “I wanted to bear witness to what was happening. I didn’t want any trouble.”
Wendy Wilbraham, a 72-year-old potter, said she felt the police presence was disproportionate and criticised the way Newman was treated.
Devon and Cornwall police said about 40 people were involved in the “demonstration”.
A spokesperson said: “Officers attended in order to enable peaceful protest and facilitate lawful activity from Cornwall council.
“One protester was subject to a use of force from officers after allegedly trying to access a secured area despite warnings not to do so. During this incident, the protester fell to the floor and suffered a bump to the head. She was checked over at the scene by the ambulance service and did not require further treatment.
“A complaint has been made in relation to this which will be investigated in due course. No arrests were made.”
Cornwall council said: “We recognise that this has been an extremely sensitive issue and appreciate the strength of local feeling. Trees are only ever removed as a last resort. In this case, the trees were causing damage that constituted an actionable nuisance, leaving the council with no alternative but to act.
“We are content that removal of the trees was both lawful and necessary. Four new trees will be planted in purpose-built tree pits at roughly the same location on Trelawney Road.
“Security arrangements were put in place on the advice of Devon and Cornwall police to ensure the safety of everyone involved. This was a precautionary measure given the degree of local interest and previous protests.”
