COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

MOTION NO. 87

MOTION: Councillor T. Gilligan

That trees that are over developed be removed from estates.  The Council does not have the money to cut them down. it will save money in the long term. There are better places to plant these trees. They are unsuitable for residential areas.

REPORT:

The Draft Development Plan offers extensive protection for trees and groups of trees in the County;

Policy LHA15: Trees and Woodlands, seeks to ensure that trees, groups of trees or woodlands, which form a significant feature in the landscape, or are important in setting the character of an area, will be preserved wherever possible.

Section 1.3.31 details the numerous activities the Council engages in which will aid adaptation to and mitigation of the impacts of climate change, which includes; Tree Planting: over 192,000 trees and shrubs planted in the County since 2002.

Policy SN3: Existing Site features also sets out that it is the policy of the Council that existing site features such as stands of mature trees, among other features should be properly identified, and included, where possible in new developments.

It is considered that the removal of trees in this manner would be acting in conflict with a number of policies and objectives of the Draft Development Plan.

Manager’s Recommendation:

 It is recommended that this Motion not be adopted.