An old impressive tree that was savagely hacked back by Works and Engineering landscapers, then given a gaudy paint job by artist Bruce Stuart, is finally to be replaced.

A new tree has been donated by Waterfront Properties Ltd. and Sousa's Landscape Management Company for the junction of Serpentine Road and Pitts Bay Road in Pembroke.

The original Poinciana tree was hit by a truck last year and slightly damaged, but then nothing but a stump remained after Government gardeners cut it back.

That led to an outcry from residents and businesses all over the Island, who said the gardeners had been heavy handed in this instance, and a number of other cases. To add salt to their wounds, artist Mr. Stuart then set his talents to work, provoking an even louder outcry.

At the time, Works Minister Alex Scott said the workmen were being deliberately harsh to roadside shrubbery in a bid to persuade people to take care of their own bushes and trees.

He said if the Government landscapers did it well, people would leave their overgrown bushes to the Ministry to cut back every time, which was not what Government wanted.

He said the Ministry was trying to persuade members of the public to take care of their own shrubs.

Yesterday Works Minister Alex Scott said crews would be removing the existing tree stump on Serpentine Road shortly to get the area ready for planting the new tree.

He said: "This will replace the existing tree, which was severely damaged by a truck and which was such a prominent feature of the junction."