Workers Act As Human Shield to Protect Trees

Workers at an Orange County time-share company tried to prevent a tree cutting service from cutting down trees. Progress Energy said they want to cut down oak trees that are located on Westgate Resort's property near Kirkman Road.

The resort workers were upset and started standing guard under the trees.

The trees would have to grow huge to hit power lines, but Progress Energy said it was a safety hazard. Westgate Resorts said Progress Energy does not have right to cut the trees down and that it's not a safety hazard

However, Friday afternoon, Progress Energy said they were postponing the tree cutting.

Resort employees acted as human shields against the chainsaws of Progress Energy.

"They can usually just trim them like past years. Why do they have to cut them down?" asked Westgate employee Michael Valentine.

Progress Energy showed up early Tuesday to remove more than a dozen trees that the electric company said was dangerously close to its power lines.

But Westgate executives said the power company was bullying them into the tree removal.

"Those trees are 25 years old they've probably reached their maximum height they're still 40 feet away from the power lines," said Mark Waltrip of Westgate Resorts.

Progress Energy said they have every right to remove the trees within their easement and they claim Westgate has known about the planned removal for years.

"We never want to cut down trees, we know our customers don't want to cut down trees, but it's something we have to do to ensure we continue providing safe and reliable power," said Tim Leljedal of Progress Energy.

Westgate executives paid employees to guard the trees until Progress Energy gave up. They said the powerful utility company was not using common sense and hope a judge will side with the trees.

"We're working with the courts right now to get an injunction and that will run the course of the day and hopefully by the end of the day we'll prevail and be able to keep them off here until a judge can decide whether or not they're acting reasonably," said Waltrip.

Westgate expects to get the issue before a civil judge Wednesday. They said if the tree cutters come again, they'll find the gates locked and security here to prevent them from getting on the property.