A council has been criticised after it was revealed that it hired a fleet of security guards to protect a 120-year-old tree. Haringey Council took possession of the tree in north London around 4.30am on Sunday (March 12) morning and stationed a dozen guards around it, despite uproar from activists and residents.
The local authority said the measures were required to bar protesters from climbing up in an effort to stop the tree being cut down. In January, Clerkenwell County Court gave the council possession of the tree, but rejected the authority's injunction request and deferred the hearing until today (Wednesday).
At Clerkenwell County Court, the case was adjourned until 2pm tomorrow (Thursday). A resident has also lodged an injunction against the council felling the tree in the High Court.
