Trees not bollards for Naas Ring Road

A PLAN for a Griffith Avenue-type, tree-lined ring road for Naas has been put forward by a local councillor.

Cllr Fintan Brett made the suggestion through a motion at the recent meeting of his Municipal District.

He suggested: “ that the council expedites the planting of trees on the Naas Ring Road where timber bollards were recently removed, and to extend such tree planting to all areas in the Municipal District where timber bollards exist” 

“It’s just to make a tree-lined avenue, a bit like Griffith Avenue,” he said.

“It would make it look lovely, and a huge upgrade from the bollards,” he said.

“It will take 20 or 30 years to mature, so I will be looking up at them by then, but anywhere that has those [wooden] bollards, get them the hell out, and make it a tree-lined avenue,” he suggested.

Curiously, his words fell on the fertile ears of Simon Wallace, Kildare’s Parks Superintendent who seemed favourable – at least to the removal of the bollards.

“Initial work on removing some of the bollards on the Naas Ring Road has taken place in the last couple of weeks,” he reported.

“Bollards have been removed from the Kerry Group HQ to Newhall Roundabout, and also on the Caragh Road section, and the work to date cost €20,000,” he informed the meeting.

“This was funded from contingency fund in the 2024 Parks Section budget, and any further work would require additional budget to carry on the work, similarly with any tree planting.

“A request has been made to the Municipal District for LPT to continue the work, and the phasing of the work may be necessary, particularly with any proposed planting.

Regarding additional areas where timber bollards exist, these would have to be assessed.

“It may not be possible or appropriate to plant all areas with trees if bollards are removed,” he warned.

However, that wasn’t all – arboreally speaking – from Cllr Brett, who, perversely, also had a motion in for the destruction of trees as well.

These were, however, the infamous Leylandii species, beloved of suburban landscapers in the 70s and 80s, but whose roots have become the bane of any foundation within their parasitic root range.

Many local authorities specifically the planting of this species, and all of the others have at least distance restrictions in place for how far from a wall they may be planted.

“Can the Council confirm a timeline for the removal of the leylandii trees at River Lawns, Kill?” he asked.

“That’s at the back of a 2.5m (8ft) tall wall that backs onto a bus stop,” he revealed.

“It’s a big wall, and it would cost in the region of €30-50,000 to replace if damaged,” he estimated.

“They’re lovely to look at, but they are a weed. I remember at Castlewarden about 10 or 12 years ago, we took them all out of the golf club, and the roots were everywhere!” he reminisced.

“We cannot confirm a timeline for the removal of the trees as we are still waiting for ESB to confirm a date to turn off the powerlines to allow us carry out the work,” said Mr Wallace in his formal reply.

“I’ve been three years pushing for this,” said Cllr Brett.

“I will be speaking with an ESB manager on this later in the week, because there are lines going through the trees at this location,” he confirmed.

“They’re right adjacent to the trees, and the trees are higher than the wires, so for safe removal there will have to be an outage for a few hours,” he predicted.