Centuries old Dunshaughlin trees felled to make way for Aldi

Dunshaughlin may be gaining an Aldi supermarket, but it is at the expense of centuries old trees which were felled this morning to make way for construction of German discount store.

In this era of climate protection and environmental awareness, six landmark trees in the centre of the village were cut down in the space of a couple of hours.

Construction work is due to begin on an Aldi supermarket on Lagore Road, off main street, after planning was permitted last March.

The permission is for demolition of the existing building on site and the construction of a single storey discount foodstore (to include off licence use) with a gross floor area of 1,638 square metres, (net retail area 1,152 square metres), and 90 car parking spaces. The proposed development includes vehicular access from Lagore Road and pedestrian access from Main Street. 

Planning notices for the development didn't refer to the felling of the trees on the 0.66 hectare site described in an environmental report on the planning file as “a open grassy field with scattered trees”.
“There are some scattered specimens of sycamore and horse chestnut” continued the report.
A derogation licence had to be obtained from the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht regarding brown-long-eared bats that were roosting in an old shed on the site, formerly a slaughterhouse, which is to be demolished.

Locals gathered this morning to watch the trees being felled, expressing sadness that something that had been so long in the village was being removed.

The field which is being developed was known as 'The Lawn', as it was once part of the grounds of Supple Castle, home of an old Dunshaughlin family who date from the 17th century. It was later owned by Murphys, and most recently, by Maddens, of the neighbouring hardware store.
Aldi first applied for planning permission in 2016, and this development was approved by Meath County Council, but rejected by An Bord Pleanala. They reapplied in March 2018.

Aldi's own design guidelines say that particular attention is paid to the existing context of a site. The new plans include a public footpath with the planting of selected semi-mature trees along the Lagore Road boundary.