Concern is growing in Kilkenny over the large-scale destruction of mature trees by the river Nore as part of a £15 million flood relief scheme.
Residents claim they have been given no information about the scheme, which will change the face of the riverside over the next three years and has been described as "vandalism" by a former mayor of the city. "People are going to wake up in a year or even less and say `My God, what has happened?' " said Ms Margaret Tynan.
The Office of Public Works, however, said there was no question of trees being removed unless absolutely necessary. A spokeswoman said it was untrue to say there had been no consultation as the scheme had gone on public display in June 1999. Further discussions would take place with property owners and communities in affected areas. Ms Tynan, a former Fine Gael councillor, said a public meeting should be held to explain what exactly the flood relief measures would entail and the reasons for them. She had received a large number of calls from members of the public "who want to protest but don't know what to do".
She questioned whether such a large-scale project was necessary to protect the small number of houses in the John's Quay area which were flooded with any frequency. "Maybe if I live long enough I'll eat my words but I think it's destruction - unnecessary destruction."
The works planned include the construction of walls and embankments along the rivers Nore and Breagagh, the deepening and widening of a stretch of the Nore through the city, the underpinning of bridges and the restoration or construction of weirs. The scheme extends from Bishop's Meadows, north of Green's Bridge, to Fennessy's Weir, downstream of Ossory Bridge.
In reply to a written question by the Fianna Fail TD, Mr John McGuinness, the Minister of State responsible for the OPW, Mr Martin Cullen, told the Dail last week the removal of trees and scrub along the river banks was being undertaken in consultation with Kilkenny County Council and Corporation.
He said the removal of trees, which had to be completed by mid-March due to environmental considerations, was specifically discussed with the local authorities and public representatives at a joint meeting of the county council and corporation on June 23rd, 1999, attended by officials from the Office of Public Works. Ms Tynan claimed the measures were "far too extreme" and were causing unnecessary devastation. The beauty of the Nore and its banks was an integral element of the beauty of Kilkenny. "I'm extremely proud of Kilkenny. I was born and reared here and I could cry when I see what's happening."
The birdsong, she said, had already disappeared in areas such as Green's Bridge, a once "unspoilt haven" in the city centre, where the trees on both banks and an island in the river have all been cut down. Tree felling has also taken place on Bateman Quay, John's Quay and beside the River Court Hotel.
"They can promise all they like that it will be lovely in so many years hence, but I have my grave doubts. Those trees are gone forever; some took hundreds of years to grow and they're gone in one fell swoop and once you interfere with nature in this way you cannot turn back the clock," Ms Tynan said.
It was not acceptable, she claimed, to say the plans for the scheme had been on public display for a month, as many people were unable to read such plans. The OPW spokeswoman said preparation for the scheme had begun in 1995 following representations about flooding in the city and every possible option had been examined. A press briefing on the scheme had been organised for March 5th but had to be postponed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Mr Cullen told the Dail that once travel restrictions were eased, OPW officials and their consulting engineers would be available to meet local authority officials, public representatives and other concerned groups.