An investigation was initiated on October 17, and a site visit was carried out by Department officials, which found that six trees had been felled.<\/p>\n
There has been widespread condemnation at the destruction of the trees, as they are situated in an ancient wetland and biodiversity habitat in north Wicklow.<\/p>\n
The Department\u2019s Alleged Illegal Felling Section have issued cease and desist notices to the owners of the site, and the investigation is currently ongoing.<\/p>\n
The clearance has taken place on land at Bellevue Hill in Delgany (old La Touche Bellevue Demesne), adjacent to Kindlestown Woods. where a 197-acre plot came on to market last year with a guide price of \u20ac6.5m.<\/p>\n
The site previously had planning permission for a golf club, and it is understood that about half of the lands were formerly in state ownership though Coillte, which sold the land to a private buyer, some 25 years ago.<\/p>\n
100 acres of the land have been sold since it was put on the market in September 2024, although the identity of the purchaser remains unclear. A ladies’ GAA club based in Greystones, \u00c9ire \u00d3g, reached an agreement in June to purchase 29 acres.<\/p>\n
Wicklow Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore, who last year launched a petition for the State to buy the land, has actively called on the State to consider the proposal, while also holding a public meeting on the issue. On October 21, through a parliamentary question, she asked the junior housing minister Christopher O\u2019Sullivan, for an update on the proposed purchase of the remaining lands.<\/p>\n
She was told that the National Parks and Wildlife Service \u201coccasionally purchases land for strategic and conservation purposes\u201d, where the environmental and operational benefits of a site are weighed against the overall cost.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn light of the commercial sensitivity of these considerations and the strategic implications of bringing these considerations into the public domain, I am not in a position to comment on any individual site that is offered for sale,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
At the October meeting of Wicklow County Council, councillors opted to bring the land into the Delgany-Greystones urban area following a vote, and to zone it for future development as active open space to facilitate community endeavours such as sports clubs.<\/p>\n
Public consultation for this and other amendments are open to the public to allow for submissions until Friday, November 21.<\/p>\n
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