Residents campaign to save their green

RESIDENTS tied yellow ribbons around old trees yesterday as part of a high-visibility campaign to save their estate’s green from developers.

The move by LowerBishopscourt Residents’Association in Cork wasdesigned to garner public support to save their green, which is for sale.

The green, which has been used as a public park since the mid-1960s, was placed on the market in June as part of the sale of Number 1, Park Gate Villas, which stands on the corner of the 1.6-acre site.

Residents were shocked when they learned that title to the green — which they have maintained since the estate was built — wasincluded in the title to the house.

There are fears the house and green could be snapped up by a developer and built upon.

The house and green were put up for sale by tender in a deal being handled by SWS Property Services.

The deadline for tenders was last Friday, but the agent handling the sale was not available for comment yesterday. It could be several weeks before the outcome is known.

In the meantime, residents said they plan to continue the fight to save their green.

A residents’ spokesman said they hope the yellow ribbon campaign will highlight how this issue could have implications for communities nationwide.

“This is part of our campaign to bring this issue to peoples’ notice,” he said.

“We hope to galvanise support citywide because this is an issue that couldaffect all suburban greens.”

Although city management has said there is a presumption against development on green areas, residents fear a developer will buy the green and apply for permission to build.

Several controversial student apartment schemes have been built in the Bishopstown area in recent months.

“The zoning of greens is not quite clear in the city development plan,” theresidents’ spokesman said.

“People need to aware of this kind of thing. And we need a determined populace to resist.”

Residents have also investigated the possibility ofsecuring preservation orders of the trees.

Several city councillors have tabled motions on this issue for discussion at city council. But meetings will not resume until September.

In the meantime, residents have urged other communities to join their campaign by logging on to a new website — www.keepbishopscourtgreen.org.

They also plan to distribute flyers and posters in the western suburbs over the coming weeks.