Letter to the Editor: Waterford residents take to the streets to save mature trees from travel scheme

Dear Editor, 

We have taken our protest to the streets of Waterford to defend the mature trees threatened by the Lismore Park, Lisduggan and Larchville Accessible Neighbourhood Project, also known as the Active Travel Scheme.

The message from residents is clear: we want safer streets, but not at the cost of destroying the green spaces that make our neighbourhoods worth living in.

A huge number of mature trees are under threat to facilitate cycle lanes and zebra crossings. Outside St Paul's College, trees could be sacrificed for just 50 metres of cycling lane. These are not small saplings that can simply be replaced overnight. They are enormous, established trees, with trunks so wide that you could hardly get your arms around them.

Residents have marked the trees along Paddy Browne's Road and Skibbereen Road, making the scale of the proposed destruction visible to everyone passing through. Once you see the trees marked for removal, the reality of what is being proposed becomes impossible to ignore.

Are we really prepared to sacrifice our mature trees and replace living green spaces with concrete?

And then comes the council's proposed alternative: moving the cycle lane inside the wall of SETU. This raises even more serious questions. There are even larger mature trees in the way, alongside a gas distribution hub and an ESB electricity box. How is this supposed to work without further disruption, tree removal or complications?

Residents have raised major concerns and pointed out what they believe are serious flaws in the project. Yet, despite their objections, the council appears determined to press ahead.

With €14 million reportedly allocated to this scheme, residents have every right to ask whether public money is being spent in the best possible way. Waterford still faces housing and homelessness challenges, potholes and other infrastructure needs. Meanwhile, local people are watching the green spaces around their homes come under threat.

Active travel should mean creating a healthier, safer and more sustainable environment for everyone. But what kind of sustainability involves cutting down mature trees to make room for concrete?

A cycle lane should not come at the expense of the very environment we are supposed to be protecting.

The people of Larchville, Lisduggan and Lismore Park deserve to be heard. Their concerns deserve genuine consideration, not to be brushed aside while decisions move forward regardless. €14 million is public money. These trees are part of our community. Once they are gone, we cannot simply bring them back.

Waterford deserves better planning, meaningful consultation and solutions that protect both public safety and our green spaces.

Yours sincerely, 

Arunas Jag,

Manor St John,

Waterford city.