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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor Alan Edge

To ask the Chief Executive to consider whether the mature trees on Stocking Lane opposite the Scholars Wood development can be the subject of a preservation order in light of recent planning applications which were refused on the basis that they proposed felling the trees. 

 

REPLY:

The principle effect of a TPO (Tree Protection Order) is to prohibit the cutting down, topping, lopping or wilful destruction of trees without the planning authority's consent. In the case of the trees referred to on Stocking Lane they are already protected by the planning permission for that site and they are also subject to a tree bond. The developer considers the trees to be an important asset to the development and has no intention of removing them.

Over the past few months the Council have received a number of complaints about tree cutting on Stocking Lane. The complaints were mainly based on the belief that Council owned trees had been felled and that there was illegal and unauthorised tree felling on Stocking Lane.

SDCC can confirm that none of the trees felled were on Council land and that only trees which have had permission to be felled have been removed. Prior to the trees being felled they were inspected by an ecologist to ensure that there were no nesting birds and where nests were found felling did not take place. There is one tree which was not felled due to the presence of a nest which is due to be felled once the birds have left.  

The tree felling on Stocking Lane was required to achieve proper sightlines and for the safety of residents entering and exiting the development and other people using the road.

We can confirm that extensive tree survey work was carried out on the site prior to the commencement of development and that an arborist has been retained for the duration of the works in line with good planning. All site works involving trees are carried out under his professional instruction and with the prior agreement of the Council.

Given the above the Council considers that the trees are adequately protected by the Planning permission and it is not considered necessary to place Tree Protection Orders on the trees.