SDLP welcome decision by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council to ban tree felling in part of Lurgan industrial estate

Residents in the Annesborough area were up in arms after trees between their homes and the industrial estate were removed at the beginning of the year.

SDLP representative for Lurgan, Ciaran Toman revealed he had first raised the issue in January and the council immediately started Enforcement action serving a Provisional Tree Protection Order (TPO), which was valid for six months, on the land in question.

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Mr Toman said: “I am pleased to inform residents and the community that the Council has now made the TPO permanent.

"Without permission sought from the relevant authorities, the scale of the destruction to trees and hedgerows was quite shocking. It created an eyesore for residents and removed that important visual and noise barrier between industrial businesses and residential homes.

"Council was the only party to act on this matter. It served the Provisional TPO and have now confirmed it permanently,” said Mr Toman who is not impressed with the developer and the Department for Infrastructure adding that only half a dozen saplings were planted.

"I want to thank Council for doing what they could within their responsibility. A small number of trees are in a very poor condition and they must be removed, however, the majority of the trees and boundary from residential developments will now be protected from removal. This is a welcome step to preserve the biodiversity of the area. Let this be a lesson to whatever developer think they can do what they want.”

A spokesperson for the Council said: “The Council served a provisional Tree Preservation Order on part of the Annesborough Industrial Estate, Lurgan on 10th January 2023, which was subsequently confirmed with modifications on 3rd July 2023.

"The Council can confirm that there are no current planning applications on this area of land in which the TPO relates. However, an application for proposed 2 storage and distribution buildings was approved, adjacent and to the rear of 22-24 Annesborough Industrial Estate, Lurgan on 8th December 2020 which is currently under construction.”

A DfI spokesperson said: “Following the removal of the trees Departmental officials met with the owner of the land adjacent to Annesborough Park and Annesborough Road. The landowner removed trees on their ground and some trees on the Department’s ground in error. The landowner had been asked to plant a number of saplings along the verge on the Department’s ground in an effort to compensate for the trees that have been removed.”