Northside residents protest removal of 22 trees to make way for cycle lane

Protests over the removal of trees and parking spaces for the €7m Knockpogue Ave and Knockfree Ave active travel improvement scheme were held during the week, as the council says the scheme is necessary for safer streets.

A petition on the issue has more than 600 signatures and explains: “Our community in Fair Hill is facing a significant threat to its natural beauty and environmental balance: The proposed removal of 22 trees to make way for a bicycle lane along our beloved avenue.

“This avenue, cherished for its picturesque alignment of trees, not only enhances the visual appeal of our neighbourhood but also provides a vital environmental benefit, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier ecosystem.

“While promoting cycling is a positive and necessary initiative for a sustainable future, it should not come at the cost of eliminating trees that have taken decades to grow and that offer irreplaceable benefits.”

A spokesperson for the Save Knockfree Avenue residents’ group told The Echo that the trees were being removed to facilitate a new cycle lane: “This affects us all, not just residential, the plans in place are not suitable for the area as nobody cycles there.

“We all have kids going to school in Farranree so this affects parking at the school, parking at the church for weddings and funerals, as well as residents being able to park outside their gates if they have two cars or more, there’ll be no parking for members of Parochial Hall.

“The trees in Knockfree Ave are to be ripped down … they keep our environment clean, it’s a beautiful road to walk.”

The spokesperson thanked everyone who had come out and supported them.

However, Sinn Féin councillor Kenneth Collins said: “It’s not just about cycle lanes, it’s about being able to cross the road safely without being injured. We had a fatality a few years back, I was knocked down myself 43 years ago as a child.”

He explained that councillors fought to keep parking spaces outside the houses of residents when plans were first announced, causing it to go back for redesign.

He said: “It’s hard to see the removal of the trees, but we have been told for every tree they take down, they are going to plant three more, and biodiversity is going to rise. An environmental assessment was done and no bats or squirrels were found.

“It was a tough decision, but I will vote for the safety of people every time. A tree can be replaced in the morning, a human life can’t be replaced.”

Mr Collins added that any resident who wishes to get a tree to plant in their garden should get in touch with him and he can arrange it with the council.

A Cork City Council spokesperson told The Echo: “The scheme represents a significant investment of more than €7m in this area.”

Knockpogue Ave and Knockfree Ave are largely residential areas, but also host a wide variety of public buildings and amenities, such as the Churchfield Allotments, Sam Allen playing pitches, Parochial Hall, Leisureworld, Farranferris Green, Bride Valley Park, Church of the Resurrection, a credit union, commercial premises, Presentation Sisters Convent, two primary schools — Scoil Íosagáin, Scoil Aiseiri Chríost — and Nano Nagle College, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said: “The existing infrastructure along Knockpogue Ave and Knockfree Ave does not promote pedestrian safety and prioritises vehicles.

“At present, footpaths and crossings are in poor condition.

“The three existing roundabouts along the route are car-focused and provide little safe pedestrian crossing opportunities.

“The Knockpogue Ave and Knockfree Ave improvement scheme will connect the local facilities, amenities, and residential areas with continuous pedestrian facilities, comprising new footpaths, safe controlled and uncontrolled crossings, cycle infrastructure, public lighting, and traffic calming measures along the 1.4km stretch of Knockpogue Ave and Knockfree Ave.

“The removal of the existing roundabouts and replacement with signalised controlled crossings will significantly improve safety and connectivity of all the neighbourhood.

“During the detailed design, care was taken to minimise the number of trees being removed while maximising the request for on-street parking for residents.

“Unfortunately, a number of trees will need to be removed to facilitate the upgrades and in order to ensure the ongoing provision of parking, but there is an extensive landscape plan in place, which will involve significant tree planting across the scheme, as well as new hedging and shrubs, rain gardens, low level bulbs, and wildflower mixes — ultimately delivering a net overall increase in biodiversity in the area.”

The council added that extensive consultation was undertaken in advance of the scheme going to detailed design and construction, with plans advertised publicly and a consultation process open until January 27, 2023.

Two public displays were held during the consultation period in Parochial Hall, Churchfield, and the Farranree Community Centre.

A total of 45 submissions were received in relation to the proposed scheme, all of which were “duly considered”, and the scheme was approved with amendments in April 2023, they said.