The last 10 mature trees on O'Connell Street, most more than 100 years old, are due to be removed under the next phase of the Dublin City Council's improvement plan for the State's main street.
The plan for the O'Connell Street Improvement Works, Phase 2, which has been released for public consultation, proposes the removal of the trees, even though councillors passed a motion almost two years ago protecting them.
A row erupted in November 2002 when more than 20 of the large London plane trees at the south half of O'Connell Street were removed to make way for Luas works and the Spire.
Councillors, conservationists and the public called for the felling to stop.
Within a week, the council's central area committee passed a motion directing that no further trees be felled and that the remaining London planes be included in the regeneration plan.
The council's central area manager, Mr Paul Maloney, said yesterday the proposed plan did include the removal of the 10 trees outside the Gresham Hotel and the planting of 84 semi-mature, similar to those at the other end of the street.
The council had almost completed phase one of the development from the Spire down to O'Connell Bridge and now wanted to have "the carpet rolled on to Parnell Street," he said. The plan was now open to public consultation until September 27th. "The plan is there for viewing and any aspect people wish to comment on, we are willing to examine."
There had been a "phenomenal public response for phase one" he said, and the council wanted the public's views before continuing to redevelop the rest of the street.
He said the council management was not ignoring the councillors' motion. "What was agreed on foot of that motion is that we come back to the council concerning the felling of any more trees and that is what we're doing."
However, Cllr Christy Burke, (Sinn Féin), who tabled the motion, said the manager had been instructed not to remove the trees and that instruction stood. "I am going to stick by that original motion and I will instruct the manager to abide by the motion."
Cllr Burke admitted the first phase of the street looked well, but he was "beyond a shadow of a doubt" opposed to the removal of the trees as were the north inner city residents he represented.
"I think we can continue with the redevelopment without removing the trees."
He noted that there had been almost unanimous support from his fellow councillors for the motion.
Labour TD Mr Joe Costello, who was a then a councillor and who opposed the tree-felling, said the new plan was "totally contrary" to what had been agreed.
"The council had given a commitment and I'm very angry that is now being dismissed."
Apart from the loss of the mature trees, he said, the bird life would be lost.
The trees which were removed from the south of O'Connell Street were either felled or transferred to St Anne's Park, Raheny. However, because of the age of the remaining trees they may not be suitable for replanting.
Work on phase two is due to get underway early in the new year and should be completed within 18 months.
The plan includes the widening of the footpaths; new lighting; granite paving on the central median; kiosks for possible use as newsagents, coffee shops or florists; public toilets; and the planting of 84 new trees.
