Tree felling causes alarm

DUN Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has been
criticised for felling trees in a Southside park where the local authority
plans to build a multi-million euro library.

On Sunday, March 5, council staff cut down dozens of
mature trees, some of which were up to 150-years-old, at Moran Park in Dun
Laoghaire.

Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) told Southside People that he
was alarmed by the move.

He claimed the felling of the trees was connected to
the council’s plans to build a central library in Moran Park at an estimated
cost of e36 million.

In 2009, councillors approved in principle the
ambitious and costly plans for the new library, subject to availability of
funding.

Councillors are due to vote on the local authority’s
capital budget for 2012 to 2015 this week. The library proposal is the largest
single capital project included in the budget.

Some councillors who originally voted against the
plans are vehemently opposed to the project as they feel the local authority
cannot afford the scheme in the current economic climate.

In a recent statement, the council said it had awarded
the contract for the development to John Sisk and Sons construction company.

“It is now confirmed that the project, the total cost
of which is estimated to be

?¬36.6 million, will be funded from the council’s
own capital reserves, development levies and a grant from the Department of the
Environment, Community & Local Government,

? the council said.

It is expected that construction work will commence in
April 2012 and the project will take approximately 22 months to complete.

“Preliminary works, which involve the removal of
specific shrubs and ivy covered trees, have now begun on site in preparation
for the main construction,

? the statement added.

In advance of the capital budget meeting last week,
Cllr Boyhan said he believed that it was

“presumptive

? of the council to start
cutting down the trees before councillors had approved the capital budget.

“The County Manager is talking about spending e36
million on the library but we have no money,

? he said.

“We cannot afford to
spend this money on a new library in the heart of Dun Laoghaire.

?

Cllr Jane Dillon Byrne (Lab) said she was

“shocked and
surprised

? that the trees had been felled.

However, she noted that the majority of councillors
had previously approved the local authority’s proposals for the library development.

“The County Manager has the support of the majority of
councillors for the development of the Moran Park scheme,

? she said.

“I am not
in favour of what the council has done with the trees.

“People are saying that we shouldn’t be spending

?¬36
million on the library at this stage. But this will not be just a library. I
hope there will also be a gallery and an exhibition area and music and
community rooms.

?

A spokesperson for the council said they would issue a
press statement detailing the highlights of the capital programme, as adopted
by councilors, once the meeting to discuss the budget has been held.

“We will not be issuing any further comment at this
stage in relation to any individual project in advance of the council meeting,

?
the spokesperson added