Removal of M50 trees is ‘disgraceful’ say residents
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A RESIDENT of Tamarisk Dale in Kilnamanagh has said the removal of a large number of trees that act as part of a boundary between the housing estate and the M50 is “disgraceful”.
The first day of the tree felling, which was carried out by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), began on the evening of Wednesday, January 13, and continued until 4.30am the following morning.
The trees were removed on the M50 close to Kilnamanagh estate
“None of the people in the area were notified about the noise that was caused by industrial chainsaws so late at night,” local resident Tony Brennan told The Echo.
“The chainsaws were constantly going for the first two or three nights when the work started, and then for two or three days after that.”
The trees were located at a boundary wall, which is still intact, between the housing estate and the M50, however Mr Brennan said he immediately noticed issues with noise pollution after the trees were removed.
“I could throw a stone onto the M50 from my house, I live that close to it,” he said.
“After the trees were removed, we had to keep doors in the house closed because of the noise – it sounds like you’re sticking your head out of a car window.
The trees were removed on the M50 close to Kilnamanagh estate
“I counted the cars one of the days and over 60 passed per minute.”
Mr Brennan added that his and other residents’ primary concerns were noise pollution, a potential decrease in air quality in the area, the impact the tree removal could have on wildlife, and also the potential visual impact.
He said: “The trees that were there before certainly did block out the noise.
“It took 30 years for those trees to grow there and they’ve taken down healthy trees and left dead ones – it’s disgraceful.
“A lot of people around here are very angry about it.”
TII confirmed that some of the tree felling was carried out overnight “and there would have been noise associated with it”, and they stated that the reason for the removal of the trees was to curb persistent anti-social behaviour at that location.
Mr Brennan added: “I think it would be fair to say that the felling of a substantial number of healthy trees so close to people’s homes is not the solution to anti-social behaviour.”
A TII spokesperson told The Echo: “The works are being undertaken, mainly to address significant anti-social behaviour within the confines of the interchange, but also to improve the health and viability of the remaining trees and improve forward visibility splays.
“TII received several representations from local residents reporting fires, loud music etc. at this location as well as reported drug transactions and drug taking over the past number of years.
“TII repeatedly repaired the masonry boundary wall at this location, as it has been vandalised to access the area at the bottom of the embankment from the Elmcastle Park side.
“TII is confident this work will improve the local environment at M50 Jn 10, the safety of locals, particularly pedestrians, M50 road users and motorway operations staff.
“The works, whilst retaining the original planting arrangement, significantly open the area up to deter the presence of any anti-social groups and remove their natural screen from the motorway.
“Improvement and siding out works to the access footway connecting Elmcastle Park to the interchange and adjacent Kingswood LUAS stop was also performed during these works.”
By subscribing to The Echo you are supporting your local newspaper Click Here: Echo Online.
TAGS news
