Councillor warns of ‘inevitable landslide’ due to overhanging trees in Leitrim

A case involving overhanging trees, which one councillor believes will lead to an “inevitable landslide” was raised during a meeting of Ballinamore Municipal District.

Cllr Paddy O’Rourke raised the motion concerning trees at Aghavilla in Carrigallen on road number L1530-3.

He asked what plans the Council had to address the “serious overlay of trees and forestry” at this location, particularly in light of Storm Éowyn.

“Can we afford to wait until the inevitable landslide occurs which may result in loss of life or serious injury, or will we take preventative action or address this situation,” Cllr O’Rourke said.

He pointed out that the Council has been in correspondence with property owners since 2019, but no progress has been made.

“There is a potential disaster waiting to happen there,” he said.

Cllr O’Rourke explained that vehicles larger than a car or jeep are forced to drive on the wrong side of the road, crossing the white line for a short but dangerous stretch, in order to pass under the overhanging trees.

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He questioned, “Can we afford to sit back and do the clean up which will inevitably fall on Leitrim County Council, who will charge against the value of the forestry? Can we not take some preventative action here to deal with what could be a very serious situation?”

Senior engineer Terry McGovern responded, explaining that it is private property, and they are not qualified to cut standing trees and contractors would be needed.

He was hesitant, saying that if you get contractors to start going in and cutting standing trees where do we start and end.

A reply from the roads department stated, “it is the responsibility of forestry and property owners to maintain their roadside verges and trees. Under Section 70 of the roads act we can contact the offending landowners and advise them of their duty in this regard."

Cllr O’Rourke stressed that a detailed letter, outlining the specific situation, needed to be sent, rather than a generic one.

It was agreed that Council would send a tailored letter to the owner.

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