'Ecological vandalism': Anger in Cork suburb over woodland clearance works
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The owners of a Cork City site linked to a contentious planning appeal have rejected suggestions that extensive woodland clearance works amount to “ecological vandalism”.
The work on the privately owned landbank near Alden and Shamrock Lawn in Douglas, next to Douglas GAA club — which is zoned for residential development — has included the removal of several trees and undergrowth and has sparked anger locally.
It also contributed to an unplanned power outage in parts of Douglas on Thursday.
Green Party councillor Dan Boyle described the site clearance as “yet another cynical move”.
“I have written to the Lord Mayor and City Council officials to argue that the council should intervene in order to stop this ecological vandalism,” he said.
The council has yet to respond to queries from the which were submitted on Wednesday about this issue.
However, a spokesman for the company which owns the site, Stanta Developments Ltd, defended the nature and timing of the works.
“The site is zoned for residential development in the current Cork City Development Plan which was adopted by Cork City Council in 2022,” he said.
“Clearing a site of scrub, undergrowth and trees of little value to accommodate its approved zoning purpose can hardly be described as ‘vandalism'.”
He also said the power outage occurred when a small branch made contact with an overhead line which caused the temporary power outage.
“No one was injured. No power lines or underground cables were damaged. The company’s safety officer was notified immediately,” a spokesman said.
“Discussions with the ESB have taken place and the Health and Safety Authority has been notified of the incident.”
Following a land swap deal, Douglas GAA Club was granted planning last month in a split decision for a new pitch but was refused planning for a controversial road which would have opened up access to the adjoining Stanta landbank.
The reported this week how the club has appealed the council’s refusal for the road to An Bórd Pleanála.
The Stanta spokesman defended the timing of the clearance works as news of the appeal emerged, and just a week before the March 1 prohibition on hedgerow removal, but said a planning application on the landbank is not likely until the end of 2025.
“The site was overgrown and would have to be cleared at some time,” he said.
“The owner also wanted easier access to commence the process of dealing with patches of Japanese Knotweed on the site.
“All clearance work of this nature must be done before the nesting season commences.
“The forecast was ideal for undertaking this work. If the work was not carried out now it would be towards the end of the year before the work could commence — not ideal weatherise or for the management of the invasive species.
“The areas of Japanese Knotweed on the site have been identified.
“None of the current works are impacting on these areas. A full programme for the eradication of the invasive species has been agreed and will be implemented over the coming months.”
He could not provide an exact number of how many trees have been removed but said all the work undertaken has been approved by a qualified arboriculturist who identified the trees that should remain untouched.
He also insisted that no trees with a preservation order have been removed, and no bat roosts were disturbed.
“It is also important to point out that none of the trees on the boundary with Alden Estate have been removed,” he said.
“Some trees on that boundary were trimmed recently by the ESB because of interference with their overhead lines but this current work has not removed any trees from the boundary.”
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