Santry group to get advice from `warriors' on trees

"Eco-Warriors" who are camped in the Glen of the Downs, Co Wicklow, in protest at a road widening scheme are to advise the Save the Santry Woods Action Group on methods of direct action to prevent the felling of trees.

In a message of support received yesterday by the north Dublin Santry Woods group, the "warriors" have offered advice on building benders and tree-top houses similar to those constructed in the Glen of the Downs.

The move follows Monday's decision by Fingal County Council to go ahead with a rezoning scheme for industrial, residential and public open space on the former Santry Demesne. The controversial scheme has been the subject of local opposition for 10 years, during which time much dereliction has occurred to the original 2,300 trees in the wooded demesne.

The wood comprises mostly native chestnut, beech and sycamore, and also contains a number of Spanish chestnut, Lebanese cedar and American redwood, donated to the owners of Santry Demesne in 1912 by Italy's King Vittorio Emanuele.

At Monday's meeting, the socialist TD, Mr Joe Higgins, the Labour TD, Mr Sean Ryan, and the Green Party councillor, Mr David Healy, suggested that Fingal County Council were being "blackmailed" into granting planning permission by the continuing dereliction of the wood and the offer of a 75acre park associated with the proposed redevelopment scheme.

Yesterday Mr Sean Marlow, chairman of the Save Santry Woods Action Group, said that the councillors' decision did not deflect the campaign from opposing the scheme. He said his committee would be opposing the development at planning permission stage, adding that the group "were always aware that it could come to direct action".

"Some of the people from the glen campaign have visited us before and their offer of support has always been there," Mr Marlow said. "In fact, the people from the glen were due here recently but, for logistical reasons, they couldn't make it. I think they needed a bigger van."

He said it was the objective of the action group to see the property retained as a parkland setting, possibly as a millennium project, "as a showcase of environmental purity situated as it is beside the airport, which could be so attractive to visitors".

The group is now planning a public meeting to co-ordinate local opposition with the experiences of the glen "warriors".