Residents’ anger over sudden sale of State woodland

Opposition representatives have united to demand greater transparency over the sale of 25 acres of mature woodland near Clarinbridge.

The land at Kilcornan, which hosts various important species such as Red Squirrels, Kestrels and also includes trees dating back over 150 years, is being sold by state forestry company Coillte – without any consultation with local residents.

Sinn Féin Senator, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, met with a number of those residents this week.

“They have told me that they are very unhappy with the proposed sale of the Coillte woodlands in Clarinbridge to private interests as there are a number of issues relating to protection of adjacent lands from flooding, heritage and nature concerns,” he said.

“It seems very strange that a state agency such as Coillte appear to be planning to offload this woodland in a hurry in the middle of the summer, without proper discussion with the local community on the potential for development and retention of the amenity in public ownership for generations to come.

“I am now calling on Coillte to halt this process immediately, to have a full public discussion about the lands in question and to ensure that any sale is in the best interests of all the relevant stakeholders and the state,” he added.

Independent TD Noel Grealish wants Coillte to send a representative to a public meeting in Clarinbridge to discuss the proposed sale and address the concerns of local residents amid fears it may be sold to a developer for housing which may result in a danger of flooding.

“This meeting can be organised to suit the diary of the Coillte representative and I believe it would be an important step in securing local support for any future plans for this site,” he said.

“They are also concerned about the loss of mature trees, flora, fauna and the possible loss of a Mass Rock which is of historical significance,” he added.

The land is fronting onto the L4102 link road between Clarinbridge and the Galway/Craughwell road and is also home to a community of badgers which are subject to a Department of Agriculture study into combating tuberculosis.