Destruction of Moynalty trees

Dear sir - You have been generous and supportive when Moynalty brought honour to County Meath, twice winning 'Ireland"s Tidiest Village" and the Special Tree Heritage Award from Europe in 2004. Now, I ask you to point out the shameful destruction of two irreplaceable mature lime trees at the centre of the village. One went in November 2008 in a pre-emptive felling before any discussion or objection could happen. The stump shows a lately healthy tree. The second tree is due to go this week on the claim of public risk without considering corrective tree surgery. The loss of these trees exposes a 10-metre high filling station canopy that is unanimously considered a eyesore. The space behind these trees is being promoted by the Moynalty Concerned Residents for Development as the location for a car park, though it might hold eight or 10 cars whose drivers had the skill and courage to handle the steep gradient of the site. The promoters also claim that these trees have only generated 'dirt on the street". Is this the historic dislike of big trees and big houses as symbols of hated landlordism? There is a need for car parking and traffic-calming here but not at the expense of the award-winning character of the village. The recently published Area Development Plan foresees growth of the tourism/heritage business and little else. Yours, Michael Ryan, Moynalty, Kells.