'People in rural Leitrim should not be left like this!' - local forestry under fire

An ambulance heading towards an elderly couple's home had to reroute after fallen trees blocked it's path, a meeting heard this week.

A south Leitrim councillor didn't hold back when she spoke out about the issue saying the tree has now been blocking the road since October 6. 

"I feel like a broken record coming in here talking about forestry trees lying across roads," Cllr Róisín Kenny said. 

She continued: "I'm very angered by these forestry companies who don't give a damn about those who live in the areas where their trees are affecting them. They don't care because if they did, this wouldn't be happening."

Referring to the L55452 road at Druminshin Glebe, Carrigallen, she asked that the Leitrim County Council "either insist that the forestry owners clear these and the many other trees that are in danger of falling and blocking this road, or that they employ an outside agency and bill the forestry owners."

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She said: "The council contacted the forestry owners but this is now November 24. This road has been blocked since October 6. There is an elderly couple living on that road and an ambulance was called and had to be rerouted on that road. Are we going to have to wait until someone dies? If this was an ordinary farmer living on that road and a tree had fallen, they would have went out and cut the tree within a few days. I drove it last week and there are now two trees lying across the road."

Cllr Kenny continued: "The forestry companies need to be held financially responsible for these trees and cut all of the trees that are in danger of falling on the road. I don't think they need a felling licence if the tree is in danger of falling out on a public road."

She said there was a similar issue in the Cloone area on "a weekly basis; one man went out with his chainsaw and cut and cleared it but people should not be left in this position."

She added: "I dread to think that somebody will end up passing away because we all know how long it takes for an ambulance to get to this part of the country as it is; we don't need any more barriers."

The official response stated that the forestry owners have been contacted again to carry out these works. They have advised that this work will be carried out this week.

Cllr Brendan Barry seconded the motion saying that the forestry was showing "disregard for their neighbours and the people living beside their property. Most farmers or landowners, out of duty for respect for their neighbours and community, will go out and cut their trees and keep them safe."

Cllr Gary Prior also supported the motion stating: “We all know there is a huge volume of timber on the move at the moment, especially in this area. I'm sure everyone is inundated with queries and concerns; local people have seen it along the road. It seems to be the priority to get the timber out and turn it into cash and never mind about the consequences left behind. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of issues.”

Cllr Ita Reynolds-Flynn also supported the motion saying there was an issue on the Aughavas road regarding a blackout. “There was no feedback about why the electricity went out; is it the trees there or something else.”