Palm trees cut down along South Shore Road in Smiths have raised alarm among some residents but yesterday Government said the trees had to be cut back for safety reasons.

The way the palms were cut has shocked plant lovers. One St. George?s resident wrote a Letter to the Editor saying that while the palms were horribly cut away, plants such as the Mexican Pepper have not been properly maintained by road side crews.

The Works and Engineering Department also received numerous calls asking for the reason behind the chop job.

Works and Engineering consultant Peter Havlicek said the land owner had been advised to employ a private company cut back the palms as falling branches have been a safety hazard to vehicles.

?We are advising land owners that vegetation should be kept back six feet from the edge of the road,? he said. ?We have to be careful about plants next to the road. If things are overhanging, branches can damage car windshields and vehicles.?

The land in question, east of Pampas Road, is privately owned said Parks Manager Andrew Pettit.

But, he said, the way the palms were cut ? with about ten feet taken off the sturdy tops ? was regrettable as it means the plants will not grow back.

Mr. Pettit said the palms, which withstood Hurricane Fabian, are known as Chinese Fan Palms.

?The palms are not like a tree,? he said. ?They don?t have a solid trunk and will probably disintegrate as a result within the next few months to a year.?