Coillte are ‘taking pure advantage of rural areas’ – Cllr

The December monthly meeting of Cavan County Council took place in Dowra Resource centre for the first time, when the plight of afforestation was widely condemned by elected representatives.

As is tradition for the council, the meeting took place in the Cathaoirleach’s home turf.

Cllr John Paul Feeley opened the meeting by celebrating the wonderful resource centre in which the meeting was held. Managed by the community he said it is “very well used”.

While the village was quiet as the councillors and executive members made their way west of the Shannon,

Western welcome

Cllr Feeley explained that this is not always the case. Fridays and Saturdays are “very busy” especially with the mart. He also praised the talent in the area, mentioning by name Margaret Coyne Couture, who made her Paris Fashion Week debut in October.

“We are all very fashionable in west Cavan,” he enthused, drawing laughter from those in attendance.

While the atmosphere at the last official meeting of the year was jovial, it wasn’t long before frustration set in.

Given its proximity, the issue of commercial afforestation by Coillte received outright condemnation by Cllr Feeley.

As the country braced for Storm Bram, many councillors last Monday were already anticipating phone calls from desperate constituents who will possibly be without power due to fallen trees, and who may also even experience trees falling on their homes.

Cllr Feeley opened a motion on the matter by slating the “monoculture of Sitka spruce” in Dowra.

“You just have to walk out and look up to see an example of commercial forestry,” he said. The area just outside the resource centre is to be clear felled and replanted the West Cavan councillor continued, stressing his belief the land “should not be replanted again”.

Impact

He outlined the negative impact on biodiversity and the visual impact commercial afforestation has. Sure enough, when entering the village from the Glangevlin side on the R200, one is greeted with large volumes of logs stacked near the roadside.

Darkness had fallen over the village when Cllr Feeley raised his motion, describing it as a “pity” that he couldn’t bring the councillors out to see for themselves the impact afforestation is having.

He suggested that Coillte is supposed to be “custodians of the landscape”, however Cllr Feeley is of the belief: “they are anything but”.

Referencing the Cavan Burren Park, being developed by Coillte and Cavan County Council, Cllr Feeley vowed “it is not nor can it ever be used for commercial forestry”.

“It should not be under the ownership of an organisation like Coillte.”

While delivering his motion, Cllr Feely further asked that the council “remove property” from the Coillte portfolio which has “special archaeological, geological and biodiversity value” so that these lands can be “properly protected” for the “common good”.

“Such lands should be placed in the ownership of the local authority or another state agency,” he opined.

The popular West Cavan walking route is “blocked” by a tree “inappropriately” planted by Coillte, and it seems it can’t be removed.

“It’s extraordinary that they are saying they do not have the technology to remove it,” he fumed.

Cllr Feeley lastly acknowledged that the Department of Agriculture has a role in Coillte’s actions. But he described the latter as “judge, jury and executioner”.

‘Clear conflict’

Given the “clear conflict of interest” arising as the department responsible for the promotion of forestry, Cllr Feeley asked “that all regulatory functions relating to afforestation be removed from the department”.

Afforestation is also a “tax free” operation, therefore Coillte is “paying nothing” to the communities it affects.

In light of the “ongoing issues” with the management of commercial afforestation in the county, Cllr Feeley asked that Cavan county Council call on the Taoiseach and Minister for Agriculture to bring forward an amendment to the Forestry Act 1988, to remove the obligation from Coillte to manage their portfolio “on a commercial basis”.

He requested that “any proposal” for commercial afforestation, clear felling or replanting be “made subject” to the Planning and Development Act.

‘Flat out’

Cllr Áine Smith (FF) said it is coming up on three years since she joined Cavan County Council, and this issue has persisted since then.

“Coillte is the biggest bowl of contention,” she stated, adding that the company is “taking pure advantage of rural areas”.

Cllr Smith predicted the possible aftermath of Storm Bram - no electricity, no phones, and the “danger” of trees falling on somebody’s home.

“Our phones will be flat out.”

“God forbid, if the storm is very bad what are we going to have?” she detailed the uncertainty people are living with in the affected areas.

“Is it worth calling Coillte into a meeting?” she questioned, describing their actions as “constant nonsense”.

Cllr Feeley said people in the west of the county know that, once a wind warning is mentioned, they “get the generator out”, which is what he will be doing also.

He outlined how Coillte reps did come to a municipal district meeting in the past.

“It was cringe-worthy in that they [Coillte] absolved themselves from any responsibility.”

Nonetheless, Cllr Feeley extended a “warm invitation” to Coillte to come and meet Cavan County Council.

“I know the Chief Executive will be very happy to facilitate that,” he noted.

‘Destroyed’

Cllr Clifford Kelly (FF) seconded the motion, and said “especially parks” are affected by Coillte’s actions.

Independent councillor Brendan Fay gave his “total support” to the Cathaoirleach’s motion, remarking on how Killykeen has been “destroyed” as an amenity by afforestation and fallen trees.

“Coillte’s remit is to make money,” he told the December meeting, adding that he has received many phone calls about the clear felling at Killykeen Forest Park, which is “absolutely destroyed”.

“We have to look after tourism in our county,” he pleaded.

“They’d plant trees in the middle of the road,” was Damien Brady’s (SF) view of Coillte.

The Ballyconnell councillor fully supported the motion, with west Cavan of particular concern to him.

“Once Coillte move into an area, the farmers cannot compete with them [for land],” he highlighted.

The former fire fighter was particularly worried with news of Storm Bram and the wind warnings that are in place around the country, and the impacts this could have on the area.

Particia Walsh (FF) gave her support to the motion, as did Cllr Trevor Smith (FG).