Reader's Blog: Cork City’s potential is being squandered

Cork could become an incredible city, a European gem, if developed properly. The city is loved because of its closeness to the water, to nature, and to history. The architecture and the historic buildings are complemented by the trees and the water. The fact that you have an island at the centre is also an added feature. The Government’s Project 2040 plans sound great and there are individuals and groups that have a vision for what the city could become.

Unfortunately, those in power have decided to treat this beautiful city with disdain and contempt. I had to laugh when I saw that Valerie O’Sullivan, director of the environment for the city council, has contributed an article on the ‘Greening of Cork’ to your Cork on the Rise supplement, which will be published on April 26. Over 500 trees were lost in Hurricane Ophelia. Cork City Council said they had no plans to replace any of them. The city council is also cutting down healthy trees and has no tree policy (Dublin City Council has). They allowed Griffith College to cut down an urban ‘forest’ behind St Patrick’s Hospital, despite it being protected. So, we are losing hundreds of trees a year, because of the council’s ignorance.