COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
QUESTION NO. 4
QUESTION: Councillor E. Higgins
"To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the number of complaints received, and the nature of the complaints, in relation to the trees that were removed from Main St., Rathcoole."
REPLY:
Following complaints to the Council from local residents and businesses relating to two of the the mature London plane trees on the Main Street, Rathcoole, an inspection of the health and condition of all of the London plane trees was carried out by Council staff. There are three complaints recorded on the Council’s Customer Contact System in respect of two of the London Plane trees and in addition, several telephone calls, the dates and details of which are not recorded on the Council’s Customer Contact System and email exchanges have been received by various staff in the Council’s Public Realm Section in relation to the trees. The issues of complaint related to structural damage of adjoining buildings from overhanging branches and trip hazards on the footpaths. Arising from the inspection, five London plane trees were identified and scheduled for removal on safety grounds. South Dublin County Council’s Tree Management Policy, adopted in 2015, sets out circumstances where trees require to be pruned or felled. The Council is reluctant to remove trees and will do so only when necessary as a last resort. This is done where there is a risk to public safety that cannot otherwise be mitigated.
There were a variety of issues underpinning the decision to remove the trees. A number of the trees were displaying signs of decay and rot undermining the structural stability of the trees and rendering them prone to sudden and unpredictable failure thereby presenting a hazard to public safety on this very busy pedestrian and vehicular thoroughfare. London plane trees have a very vigorous rooting system and some of the trees had also outgrown the available rooting space under the footpath causing damage to the pedestrian footpaths and creating trip hazards. The species is also characterised by a large canopy and given the confines of the streetscape where the trees were located along Rathcoole’s main street with narrow footpaths and very close proximity to buildings, branches of some of the trees were coming in contact and causing structural damage to adjoining properties. None of the issues outlined could be simply dealt with by cutting back branches and the trees would continue to cause problems into the future.
Prior to the scheduled removal of the five trees on safety grounds, a South Dublin County Council official attended a meeting of Rathcoole Community Council on February 9th last to inform local people of the proposed removal of the five trees and the issued was noted in the February newsletter from the Community Council. At the meeting, the Council official outlined the reasons that informed the decision made by the Council to remove the five trees. While it was acknowledged that many people would prefer not to see the trees removed, it was accepted at the meeting that the proposed removals were necessary. At the meeting, the members of the Community Council requested that the Council also consider removal of a sixth tree opposite the Church. The footpath was very narrow at this point and there were accessibility issues being caused by the location of this tree.
It is always regrettable that mature trees have to be felled but there is no alternative where hazardous trees prevail posing a genuine risk to public safety and an unsustainable liability to the County Council. South Dublin County Council has a duty of care towards the public and is obliged to act in the interests of safety in situations like this.
Replacement trees suitable for the planting location and which will not lead to similar problems in the future will be planted at various locations throughout Rathcoole village during the next planting season or as soon as is practicable. Consultation will be undertaken with the local people in regard to proposals for new and replacement tree planting.