"Ash trees a danger to the public" - Stenson

"It's a definite danger and we have got to look at them," said Cllr Enda Stenson at the latest meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon municipal district where he asked district engineer, Darragh O’Boyle, to examine solutions to deal with two ash trees at Funshinagh Cross on the Mohill /Keshcarrigan road, as they are blocking the view crossing this junction." 
He was advised that the district office "will, once again, write to the land owner and advise him that he needs to take action regarding hedges and trees."

Cllr Stenson said that he believed "the landowner won't be taking them down."

Mr O'Boyle said council officials met with the landowner who agreed he would fell the trees. "I have written to him again; it is somebody's property so we can't just go and cut down the trees without giving him formal notice; we can help with traffic signs and management."

Cllr Stenson said that there are a number of large ash trees "here, there and yonder that no farmer is able to take on. Help has to come from central government."

He added, "If a tree comes down in some storm, you can't blame an elderly farmer because he can't take it down himself."

Cllr Sean McGowan supported the motion and agreed that there "is going to have to be government support to deal with them."

Cllr Stenson repeated that the trees were "an absolute danger to the public and farmers won't be able to do it."