Is someone poisoning these trees?

VRYHEID could easily gain a reputation for having wonderfully green and leafy avenues of trees in its residential areas. President Street, between Boeren and South streets is such an avenue, but it would appear someone has other ideas.
Near the intersection of Boeren and President, a number of plane trees, which at this time of year normally have all their new summer’s growth of leaves,are dead. Just down the street the avenue is covered over with greenery, but not near the intersection.
It appears as if the trees have been poisoned. Only a soil sample could prove this, but it appears as if perhaps diesel oil has been poured around the trees’ trunks.
Plane trees are messy – they drop their leaves in autumn – is that what a nearby resident objected to?
The municipality, which owns the trees on the sidewalks, should investigate.