COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
QUESTION NO. 4
QUESTION: Councillor S. Holland
"To ask the Chief Executive for a report on the number of tree removals in Coolamber Park and detail reasons for removal?"
REPLY:
Four trees were removed in Coolamber estate as part of the 2015 Tree Maintenance Programme.
Side 16 Coolamber Court 2 trees removed due to proven structural issues that could not be resolved by alternative mitigating actions
Open Space Coolamber Park tree removed due to storm damage
153 Coolamber Park dead tree removed
Trees are removed by the Council only when necessary as a last resort except where there is a risk to public safety that cannot otherwise be mitigated. The Council’s Tree Management Policy – Living with Trees – outlines the criteria for tree removal as follows:
- Where an inspection has identified visible decay, fungal brackets indicating possible root and trunk decay or any other defect that would lead to the tree failing.
- A tree is dead or visibly in decline beyond the point of recovery and is no longer meeting the functional or aesthetic requirements of a street tree. Typically, a tree with 30 percent or less of its foliage remaining would meet this criterion.
- Fatally diseased trees (e.g. Ash dieback, Fireblight Disease) may be removed before they reach the primary threshold in order to prevent the spread of disease to healthy trees.
- To abate an actionable nuisance, where branches are touching buildings, e.g. physical contact with walls, windows and gutters.
- Where road signs, traffic signals, street lights, and sightlines for vehicles and pedestrians are obscured.
- Evidence has been provided that the tree is a significant contributing factor in causing structural damage that cannot be reasonably addressed by an alternative solution and proactive tree management has had no mitigating effect.
- The trunk of the tree is within 2m of a public lighting column and the long term viability of the tree if retained in its location would be compromised by a requirement for ongoing maintenance in order to maintain the effectiveness of the adjoining street light.