“Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you got 'til it's gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”

The words of Joni Mitchell’s 1971 song could not be more appropriate for this campaign as local residents oppose plans to fell 13 mature trees for extra parking in Portaferry’s Conservation area - also an Area of Outstanding  Natural Beauty, an area of Archaeological Potential and listed on the register of Historic Gardens, Demesnes and Parks. Despite all these designations Ards and North Down Borough Council are planning to destroy 13 mature trees and replace with a tarmac car park.  

The Council never consulted with local residents about the destruction of the trees or the proposal to extend an existing car park that is only full on several bank holidays per year. 

We applied to the Department of Infrastructure which oversees planning in Northern Ireland asking them to place Tree Preservation Orders on the trees, but the Council, who originally tried to build the car park under permitted development (with no Environmental Screening Determination) in defiance of the DFI have submitted a planning application to demolish the trees, rejecting a more environmental solution that saved most of the trees and incorporated them into the new car park.

The planning application is due to go before the Council’s own planning committee in 2022 and we are asking for everyone’s help, near and far, to object to the destruction of these beautiful trees and our conservation area. 

Please email planning@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk quoting Planning Reference Number LA06/2021/1422/F 

Please ask your friends and family to do the same. Time is running out.. 

For further information contact  078 7402 3528.