Locals upset as century-old trees cut down for construction project

Four old trees, located just at the border of the site, should remain untouched, argue some locals. One of them, a sequoia, is believed to be at least 104 years old.

The Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development initially put out strict orders that the trees were to remain unharmed and protected with a barricade throughout the entire construction phase. A decree set out concrete measures and singled out all four trees as protected.

However, people in the neighbourhood claim that the trees have been damaged by the construction workers, the far side that cannot be seen from the street in particular. Furthermore, the Ministry has in the meantime changed course and put out a new statement, claiming that "the construction of the access path requires the removal of both the giant sequoia and the blue cedar". The statement was issued jointly with an authorisation to remove the trees.

Both trees were removed days later on 28 January. Locals observed how the sequoia and the cedar fell, lamenting that a piece of Diekirch history disappeared in front of their eyes.