Woodland nursing home is madness

IRELAND has a very small percentage of woodland, approximately 1.5% deciduous and 5% as forestry plantations of conifer.

The little that remains of native woodland comprises oak, alder, ash, birch, hazel, yew and Scots pine.

So I wish to express my concern about the proposed application to destroy part of Knockranny woods in Westport, Co Mayo. Westport Town Council is dealing with a planning application from Coillte which wants to clear five acres of Colonel’s Wood for a nursing home and multistorey car park.

While we condemn developing nations for destroying the rain forest and putting species at risk, surely an EU member country cutting down trees for the sake of cars is madness.

I’m sure there must be other suitable sites for this development. Already there is support for Westport people who oppose this application from around the world via Facebook – ‘Save the Lungs of Westport – Knockranny woods’

Clive Baker

Norfolk Road

Ely

Cambridgeshire

England