SINN Féin councillor Sharon Benson has called for reed removal to be progressed as a matter of urgency at Westfields Wetlands.
Speaking at this Monday’s Metropolitan District meeting, Cllr Benson expressed disappointment at the lack of progress at the city beauty spot over the last three years. She called on the Council to provide a specific budget code for the annual maintenance and monitoring of the wetlands.
“Westfields is a biodiversity gem. We need to get a move on to get these works progressed as a matter of urgency,” she told the council executive.
Labour Party councillor Conor Sheehan took the view that the lack of progress to clean up the wetlands should be a matter of “deep shame for all of us”.
“Three years later and nothing happening. The wetlands is a gem and it is reasonable at this point to demand action,” he said.
Green Party councillor Saša Novak also expressed her support for Cllr Benson’s motion and called for works to be carried out as soon as possible.
Council members were informed by the executive of its plans at the end of this month to cut reeds below the water surface so they would ultimately drown and die out. The cost of annual reed cutting works in the wetlands is estimated to cost between €10,000 to €15,000.
