Anger over tree removal at Trim nursing home

The felling of a number of trees inside the boundary of St Joseph's Hospital grounds and nursing home in Trim has been met with anger in the local community.

Phil Cantwell, a former councillor who lives nearby, says the trees were between 80 and 100 years old and provided great shelter. However, the HSE has said they posed a danger to the public.

“These trees were around the boundary of the hospital and provided shelter as they came out over the road. There are two primary schools and two secondary schools here and the schoolchildren always walked under the trees in bad weather for shelter.

“I've seen children as young as seven or eight, people in wheelchairs people waiting for buses, all using those trees for shelter.

“Thousands of children took shelter under them, walked to school under them every day. People walking to mass also sheltered under them.

“Those trees had a function and in a time of climate change I cannot understand how anyone could just decide to cut down so many trees. This will effect biodiversity. At a time when we are fighting to protect the environment, this is dreadful. There was no sign of any disease or damage to the trees.

“You would think that at a time like this, someone would have had the cop on to just check and ask people in the locality their views.

“There was absolutely no consultation with the local community, with the schools, teachers or anyone.

“They just started last week and took out all the trees, all that is left are the stumps,” he said.

Mr Cantwell said he has contacted Meath Co Council, the Green Party, and An Taisce asking them to check it out.

Cllr Noel French said he would like to see new trees planted to replace those that have been cut down.

“They should be planted in the same place or somewhere else within the site,” he said.

A spokesperson for the HSE said that on 21st January, Storm Isha battered Ireland and during this storm one of the very tall trees along St Joseph's boundary with Patrick Street came down onto the public road.

“Thankfully, no-one was injured and no damage to cars was caused.

“Following this serious incident, the HSE requested an arborists report on the remaining trees on the campus. This report recommended that the HSE commence a felling programme of the remaining 12 trees due to their poor root structure and the danger posed to members of the public using both the footpath and the public road.

“As part of these works, six trees are in the process of being replanted which will be properly rooted and secured for the future.”