Residents given three options on tree removal plans

Residents of Connolly Avenue in Navan have been given three options to deal with the trees on their avenue, which were under threat from works on the pedestrian and cycle network.

Following a meeting with representatives from Meath Co Council and Connolly Avenue the council has distributed a letter outlining the options to the residents this week and will be calling house to house to collect the resident input and option choice if they wish to contribute to the process.

The document outlines the three main options which are available when delivering the cycle/pedestrian scheme along the frontage of Connolly Avenue, one of which includes keeping most of the trees.

Residents held a recent protest against the removal of trees from their avenue and launched a petition to protect the trees when they learned that the trees would be removed to make way for the work on the cycle scheme.

The letter also informs the residents that the ESB are due to return to trim back/prune the branches on the trees, which have grown through and around the overhead ESB wires on safety grounds. This is required in whether the trees are to be retained or to be removed.

Residents have also been informed that the arborist’s report has identified some of the trees as having extensive decay in some cases, and recommended the removal of such trees. In one case, a “large cavity” was identified on a limb of a tree. Two trees have been identified as Category ‘U’ in the report and noted as being “potentially hazardous”.

"The existing trees have grown in a constrained environment, combined with limited nutritional availability, pruning over the years and the requirement for ongoing maintenance, it is considered that it is unlikely the existing trees will flourish and their long-term potential is limited," the letter states.

The first option outlined in the letter to retain the majority of the trees, with the removal of or tree surgery the two Category ‘U’ Trees.

"In relation to the remainder of the trees, the council would investigate the possibility of altering the levels of the cycle track and footpath with a view to increasing the level by approximately two inches in an effort to limit damage to the underlying root structure for the remainder of the trees during the construction stage. The existing tree trunks would be protected during the construction phase from the works activity, and efforts would be made as far as reasonably practicable to avoid unnecessary damage to the underlying root structure to each tree," the document states.

The second option would include the removal of the existing trees on Connolly Avenue, with a semi-mature hedge planted for the full length of the verge. A sub-option of this option would be to introduce ornamental shrubs/trees, such ‘pyramid’ shrubs or ‘lolly pop’ trees at intervals with the hedging between them.

A stonework type flowerbed could be included on both sides of entrance to Connolly Avenue, with a mix of planting included.

The final option would include the removal of the trees and providing a semi-mature hedge for the full length of the verge. Large tree pits would be installed at regular intervals along with kerbing with stone clad walls surrounding new semi-mature trees. This would reduce Connolly Avenue to a single traffic lane at these new buildouts/ ‘pinch’ points to contain the new trees.

A stone clad flowerbed could be included on both side of entrance to Connolly Avenue, with a mix of planting included.