Local Fine Gael Councillor for Glencullen – Sandyford Neale Richmond has questioned the logic of m50 Concessions following the careless removal and destruction of healthy trees by road workers along the m50 slip road to the rear of College Park, Ballinteer, in order to facilitate drainage workers.

“It is a disgrace that the contractor has pulled up and essentially destroyed so many trees without giving any thought to the long term costs.

“These trees were only planted three years ago and to up root them now is akin to taking a newborn baby out of an incubator and leaving them beside the road.

“Although a minor consultation was held with local residents, it seems no thought was put into the economic cost or horticultural impact of uprooting the tress and dumping them by the side of the road.

“Each tree costs €300 and to supply and plant a new set of trees would cost another €500 in landscaping charges. It may have been easier for the contractor to uproot and dump the trees to be replaced at a later date but it makes no economic sense when they could have been lifted and stored without killing them off!

“At this stage it is vital that the contractors complete the work as quickly as possible before putting in new saplings. These trees are an essential part of the screen planting which blocks out the noise from the m50 from disturbing the local residents of College Park.”