Councillors unanimously approved Knockpogue Avenue and Knockfree Ave project. New semi-mature trees to be planted to outnumber trees felled as part of the work. 22 trees to be removed, but in excess of 40 to be planted. Cycle lanes targeted, but new footpaths, crossings, traffic calming, road resurfacing included. Car parking is maintained outside all houses. If the council paused the work, it would be on the hook for major costs of delays.Locals say beloved trees, part of the community for decades, are being sacrificed for cycle lanes, says a report on 96fm.ie, the website of a local radio station, but over twice the number of trees are to be cut down because of complaints of the loss of car parking.While the cycle lane is still being blamed on the loss of car parking, Cork City Council has said that after efforts to reduce the car parking loss from the cycle lane, the main reason for car parking loss is now because of pedestrian crossings, aimed at making it safer for children walking to school and people of all ages walking in the area.Protests with security and Garda presenceVideos posted online and seen by IrishCycle.com include some protesters getting close to construction equipment used to move rubble, while other clips show protesters complaining about the presence of security guards and Gardai, claiming it is unnecessary.In one video, the apparent voice of the person recording it is outraged that there is no traffic management and that the construction work is narrowing the road and affecting traffic, but, while these claims are being made, the video shows two-way traffic moving freely.A local TD, Thomas Gould (Sinn Fin), this week berated Government councillors for opposing a call for mediation between aggrieved residents and the council, but the rejection of the idea goes beyond councillors affiliated with the Government.In a Facebook post, Deputy Gould said: There is now a security presence on Knockpogue and Knockfree Avenues. This is an escalation that wouldnt have happened if government councillors hadnt opposed our proposal of mediation. The residents are willing to enter mediation, Cork City Council should come to the table and agree an independent mediator with the community.Entering into mediation would require pausing the project, which in turn would require the council to take responsibility for the high cost of delaying and restarting it.Trees and parkingProviding additional car parking spaces compared to the original plan for the project led to an increase in the number of trees to be cut for the Knockpogue Avenue and Knockfree Avenue Active Travel project in Cork City.And even before the amendments including extra car parking spaces were made to the scheme, the reason for the removal of the original 10 trees was mainly marked as to provide the cycle path while retaining car spaces.Cork City Council called the project a much-needed investment of 7 million into the North West Ward, and will benefit the people using the many schools, sports facilities, church, community centres, and businesses in the area. While the cycle lanes are being focused on by objectors against the project, the council said that it will also include replacement and upgrade of all footpaths, the installation of new pedestrian crossings, full road resurfacing which will vastly improve the condition of road surfaces in the area, a range of traffic calming measures aimed at creating a safer environment for all, upgrades to public lighting, water main upgrades/replacement, and upgrades to green areas, with extensive planting of hedging and shrubs, low level bulbs and wildflower mixes.A spokesperson for Cork City Council said that the project includes planting of semi-mature trees in numbers in excess of the removed trees as well as a comprehensive landscaping plan. The existing trees in the green across from the Sam Allen complex are to be trimmed back and retained.Unfortunately, in the delivery of significant infrastructure improvements, some tree removal is often necessary to enable the delivery of the upgrades to footpaths, pedestrian crossings, public lighting, and cycle facilities, as well as retention of on-street parking as may be requested, a council spokesperson said in a statement issued to this website. IMAGE: An example of the original Knockpogue Avenue and Knockfree Ave project drawings (right) and the draft plans showing the amenities set by councillors (left), including extra trees to be cut for the extra parking spaces that are to be provided (drawing legend shown at the end of this article).A spokesperson for Cork City Council said: The Knockpogue Avenue and Knockfree Avenue Active Travel Scheme is being constructed to provide safer transport facilities and deliver a full renovation of the public realm.The route serves a residential area with 3 schools, Leisure World Complex, Sam Allen sports facilities, Parish Church, local businesses, Parochial Hall, etc, and is identified as a Primary Cycle Route which will tie in with further cycle facilities to be delivered under Cork Bus Connects. The upgrade proposals will address inefficiencies in all transport modes, including walking, cycling and vehicular as well as safe access to schools, etc.When questioned about the scheme, the council highlighted how the project was adopted unanimously by the City Council in April 2023 following what it called an extensive consultation process which included site notices, newspaper notices, hand-delivered letters to all properties along Knockpogue Avenue and Knockfree Avenue and two public meetings held in the locality to which residents were invited to view the plans, speak to the design team and make submissions on the proposals.The spokesperson said: The submissions received on foot of the consultation detailed various views on a range of topics and led to 14 amendments being included in the final approved scheme.The amendments included maintaining existing on-street parking for residents along Knockfree Avenue which required additional tree removal over and above that originally proposed was also necessary in order to maximise the parking between Fair Hill and Innishannon Road.Raised cycle tracks to be provided on both sides of road along Knockpogue Avenue between Pophams Road and Farranferris Avenue so as to ensure that the existing road width in this area is maintained and parking for masses, funerals, attendance at the park, etc, is consistent with the current parking provision and arrangements, a spokesperson for the council said.The spokesperson said: In relation to parking, in residential areas [along the road], 125 car parking spaces will be provided, and this represents a loss of approximately 5 spaces. This is primarily due to the space required for the installation of new pedestrian crossing facilities.IMAGE: Another example of a newer drawing (left) shows additional parking and fewer trees than the original plan (right). To address long-term concerns, the council have also taken the unusual approach of adding speed ramps to the approaches to the planned signalised junctions to prevent speeding vehicles. These junctions replace the existing three roundabouts on the road, which are locally seen as dangerous for pedestrians. A spokesperson said: The approaches to the schools are to be upgraded to include for pencil bollards, school zone road surfacing and line markings, along with additional warning signs as well as raised crossing points to provide safe route to schools. The school warden crossing is to be relocated at Scoil osagain.The council said that all existing disabled parking spaces are to be retained for residents along the scheme, and access to all existing driveways is to be maintained. While litter bins and dog waste bins are to be located at strategic locations along the scheme.IMAGE: A third example of a newer drawing (left) shows additional parking and fewer trees than the original plan (right). Expanding on the issue of tree removal, the spokesperson said: Similar tree removal was undertaken on other recently completed schemes in the City, such as Marina Promenade, Marina Park, Mahon Renewal Scheme, and Grange to Tramore Valley Way. But this was followed by comprehensive replanting programmes focusing on native species, with more trees planted afterwards in each of these areas than existed before. A similar tree replanting programme is planned for Knockpogue Avenue and Knockfree Avenue.In the delivery of the scheme, 22 trees will be removed and in excess of 40 replanted, and the City Council would be delighted to work with local stakeholders to expand this programme further. The replanting scheme will feature suitable semi-mature, native trees suited to an urban environment, as well as new hedging and shrubs, low-level bulbs and wildflower mixes, ultimately delivering an overall increase in biodiversity in the area, the spokesperson said.Parking The council said that the existing informal parking arrangements at the Church of the Resurrection on the road will be maintained while the existing informal parking arrangements around the Parochial Hall (shown in the drawings below) will be reduced but provision has been made for replacement parking at the existing car park facilities at the Sam Allen Sports Complex (directly opposite the Hall).It said that the front boundary wall of Parochial Hall will also be removed to incorporate it into the public realm and include landscaping improvements and ramped access to the hall.IMAGE: Drawings showing 3 extra set down spaces (right) which are to be for a parking time of 15 mins or less. Compared to the original drawing (right), the additional space is also provided for disabled parking spaces.Grant funding was secured, and the scheme has been contracted for delivery. The scheme is now under construction, and some of the new tree planting forms part of the works programmed in the coming weeks. Conscious of the seasonality of the bird nesting season, the appointed contractor is currently focusing on a separate section of works at the northern section of the 1.4km scheme, the council said.Residents also claim the cycle lanes are to nowhere, but the council outlined that the route will link with plans for BusConnects and eventually other routes too.The spokesperson added: The City Council recognises the concerns raised by local residents, including the removal of trees. The local Elected Members and project team have individually and collectively met with residents and other stakeholders, and they will continue to liaise in relation to these and any other concerns raised in relation to the scheme, as is the practice with the delivery of capital projects in all other parts of the City.