Residents delighted as Council cuts plan to fell 22 trees to 10 in Farranree

A total of 12 trees out of 22 which were marked down for felling, have been saved, thanks to changes to a controversial active travel scheme in Farranree, after a campaign hailed as a win for people power.

The changes followed mass protests over the removal of the trees, as well as parking spaces, as part of the €70m Knockpogue Avenue and Knockfree Avenue Improvement Scheme, which seeks to introduce new bike lanes.

A spokesperson for Cork City Council said that council engineers recently met with residents to review and assess potential amendments to the works at Knockfree Avenue, so as to reduce the number of trees to be removed or replaced.

The amendments require the removal of 10 trees rather than the 22 previously proposed.

The plans are subject to National Transport Authority (NTA) approval, ongoing stakeholder engagement and "successful trial delivery", including related road safety audits, the spokesperson said.

Sharon Hussey, one of the residents who has been protesting the scheme, said that residents are very happy.

“We feel heard finally – after over nine months fighting for it. It’s a big win for the residents. We also will gain more parking in some areas too.”

People Before Profit/Solidarity councillor Brian McCarthy said: “This is a massive win for the community, and a real example of what people power can do.

“Twelve months ago when the protests started, the council said ‘no, absolutely not, can’t make any changes the trees all have to come down’ – now here we are.

“The community were very organised, they stood their ground and had huge public support," he said.

He added that after the biggest community-based protest the northside has seen in 19 years, the council “came back to the table with a completely different attitude", he said.

Sinn Féin councillor Kenneth Collins said: “This is a step in the right direction, we need to see these plans now delivered.

“It shouldn’t have taken a battle to reach compromise but thankfully we will now see positive changes in our community.”