‘Keep an eye on Coillte’ - Cllr

Parts of Cavan have been planted with forestry in a “criminal fashion”, according to a local representative.

Cllr John Paul Feeley (FF) placed a motion before Cavan County Council calling for a number of local forests to be deemed “non-commercial”.

Coillte last year designated eight sites across Dublin and Wicklow as recreational parks, meaning trees will no longer be cut down to be sold on. They will instead be managed by the forestry body’s not-for-profit arm Coillte Nature. They will solely be operated as recreational or biodiversity areas.

Cllr Feeley said local areas, such as the Cavan Burren Park, Killykeen and Dún an Rí, should also receive the same designation.

“If it’s good enough for the people of Dublin, it’s good enough for people here,” he said.

He told the meeting that historical and naturally beautiful areas in west Cavan like the Burren Park have been effectively destroyed by commercial forestry plantations.

'Vandalism'

He cited views over Lough MacNean outside Blacklion as one example where he likened plantations to “vandalism”. Ancient field markings in the area, which he likened to those in the Céide Fields, had also been damaged by work he claimed. Cllr Sarah O’Reilly (AON) also claimed historical features had been damaged or destroyed at Castle Lake in Bailieborough.

She was scathing in her criticism of Coillte.

“It has a draconian way of going on. It’s a money making organisation and its bottom line is profit.”

Forestry plantations regularly draw criticism, particularly in heavily forested areas in west Cavan and Leitrim. There have been calls for changes to regulations around the granting of permission for such developments.

Cllr Peter McVitty (FG) questioned what role the county council has in approving or denying permission for plantations.

“It depends on the scale,” said Director of Services, Planning, Community & Economic Development Brendan Jennings. “Most applications go straight to the Department [of Agriculture].”

He said the local authority has a “very good” relationship with Coillte but described the organisation as having “many arms”.

Cllr Feeley urged Coillte to listen to the concerns of people locally.

“They need to listen. The Burren Park does not indicate a positive relationship. They have a duty to protect it. We’ll have to keep an eye on Coillte.”