Low hanging Eir wires need to be addressed in Carrick-on-Shannon, says local councillor

Cllr Maeve Reynolds asked the council to call on Eir to "urgently address low-hanging wires and leaning poles in the Carrick-on-Shannon municipal district, Leitrim, which block access to hedgerows, impede essential hedge cutting and pose significant risks to expensive machinery. Eir should clarify, in cases where a wire overgrown in a hedge causes damage to machinery, who is responsible for covering the cost of that damage. The council needs to request a clear programme of works and timelines to rectify these hazards, along with a responsive system for complaints."

Cllr Reynolds noted that the issue has been raised several times, especially following Storm Éowyn, but said that some wires are so low, "that you could almost hang your washing on them and now the hedges are growing over the wires and you can't see them. When a hedge cutter comes to cut them, they will cut the wire and cut off people's phone and internet and cause massive damage to machines as well because the hedges can't be cut. It's find to say it's the landowner's responsibility, but if they can't access their hedge to cut it, then where does responsibility lie? We need to see some action on this."

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Cllr Sean McGowan supported the motion and said wires are so low in places that "you could put your hand up and pull it; I've seen it all over the place" before adding that it "is a huge problem and Eir needs to get their act together. Some wires may be discontinued so they need to take them away; they need to carry out a survey on what's required and those that are required need to be tied up properly and ensure that hedge cutters can see wires."

Cllr Enda Stenson also supported the motion. 

Deputy Chief Executive of Leitrim Council Mary Quinn said that hedge cutting is the "landowner's responsibility; they should be reporting the issue to Eir."

Cllr Reynolds responded: "There are poles hanging out across the road that they are not even addressing so reporting this to Eir; when it comes to a point that the landowner has reported and rereported and can't cut their hedge, then where are we?"

Ms Quinn said the council would issue correspondence to Eir "to address particular problem areas."