Green Councillor Louise Heavin has secured funding for a community orchard scheme in the Athlone-Moate Municipal District of Westmeath. In a motion to the council, Cllr Heavin requested the use of discretionary funding biodiversity projects to run a pilot scheme for a small orchard of 10-15 trees. A number of volunteers have already expressed interest in the plan, and Cllr Heavin has called for any local groups who would be interest in the scheme to get in touch.
Green Cllrs Alan O’Connor and Liam Quaide have questioned Cork County Council about the damage to local biodiversity from cutting down trees in Mallow Town Park. Speaking to Echo Live, Cllr Quaide explained the issue:
“At least fifteen mature trees were felled at Mallow Town Park in May at the height of the COVID-19 restrictions and in the middle of nesting season. I’ve looked into these works further and the justification for their removal was a sweeping statement about a row of trees from an overall planning report that was dated April 2019. There was no structural assessment of each tree, as there should have been, to justify such drastic action.”
It has been agreed that the issue will be explored during the creation of a country-wide tree policy by the Environment, Climate Action and Biodiversity Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) this year.
Cllr Karen Power of Fingal County Council reports success in having parking spaces reallocated for the use of pedestrians and cyclists. Dublin City Council has introduced new space for pedestrians on several streets to allow for increased social distancing and is trialling pedestrianised streets in the Grafton area between 11am and 7pm this Saturday and Sunday.
The post Council update: Community orchard takes root in Westmeath as Cork Cllrs question tree removals appeared first on Green Party.
