KILDARE: No overall survey of trees - despite concerns about suitabiliy for residential areas

Kildare County Council has ruled out the idea of surveying estates in the Naas area to establish if unsuitable trees are planted in these places.

Cllr Fintan Brett asked KCC to do the survey in estates which are over 10 years old.

According to KCC  a number of factors need to be considered relating to problematic trees,

These are: including the views of residents - which can vary considerably.

The size, height, leaves, seeds, flowers and position  can be all

reasons why trees are considered problematic.

Additionally growing conditions vary from estate to estate depending on how well the estate was landscaped by the developer and this can determine whether tree roots are problematic. The quality of tree planted must be taken into accounts as well as its age, size and the size of the verge.

Removing trees is expensive  and this has to be balanced against other works, mainly pruning.

There is a need to retain trees for biodiversity and climate change and alternatives to removal have to be considered such as increasing the rootzone area or improving the root zone when paths are being fixed.

A Naas Municipal District meeting was told that KCC does not have enough capacity to undertake the survey but  if there are particular estates or locations where issues reoccur particularly with paths, these can be surveyed when future programmes for tree works are made.

Trees at Elmwood and Chestnut Hill will be assessed and the scheduling of the works will depend on the cost of the overall works that  need to be done.

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