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The outrage over the felling of a substantial number of 200 year old oak trees at Greenbank Industrial Estate in Newry during the early hours of Wednesday morning continues with campaigners determined to ensure the same destruction doesn't happen in the future. The trees were removed as a consequence of an ongoing Department for Infrastructure Flood Alleviation Scheme at Greenbank
Newry.ie asked the Department who authorised the tree removal. In a reply a DFI spokesperson said that ' site safety' was the reason for the removal of the trees. The spokesperson said "The trees were removed to ensure site safety. We could not knowingly allow them to remain with the resultant safety risk, nor can we avoid completing the scheme without the risk to life and property from flooding.“
The DFI spokesperson added that alternative methods were exhausted and any flood risked trapping people in Greenbank Industrial Estate “The flood risk in this area is real and continuing. Alternative methods were exhausted. Given the topography of the industrial estate it will act as a bowl and flood waters once they enter would be slow and difficult to remove. Risk of entrapment to people in the estate would be significant. " they said.
Speaking about a deep sense of betrayal felt by campaigners Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said "These trees have been here longer than any of us, and they should be here long after all of us are gone, but despite intensive lobbying of the SF Infrastructure Minister to find a common sense solution which would allow for the enhancement of flood defences without inflicting environmental harm, the Minister has decided to ignore the wishes of the people of Newry and allow these mighty oaks to be destroyed.
“There is a deep sense of betrayal amongst the campaigners who have been fighting to protect our local environment. I’m personally devastated for Eamonn Burke, who has been the voice of the trees and who has put his heart and soul into protecting these oaks. As an engineer by trade, and in standing with Eamonn on this campaign, I recognize that there were alternative engineering proposals that would have both mitigated the risk of flooding and protected the oaks on site. Government Ministers need to remember that they’re there to serve the people. That hasn’t happened here, and Minister O’Dowd needs to explain why.”
