Leitirm County Council to increase pursuit of landowners that don't cut their hedges

Cllr Sean McDermott raised "the serious hedge cutting issues that occurred in North Leitrim areas late last year. Many suggestions were made at a Manorhamilton Municipal District meeting, one being that the relevant Strategic Policy Committee would discuss this issue."

He said that the present hedge cutting system is not working for many roads in the county, especially local roads and improvements can be seen on roads that avail of the hedge cutting grants. He added that many landowners who are notified to cut their hedges don't respond which makes the roads very dangerous.

He said that local roads are the biggest issue because they "are narrow" and said on his own road, a bus is getting "caught on hedges and indeed, mirrors have been broken; a windscreen has been broken on the particular bus."

A report by Economic Development said an overview of the existing Hedge Cutting Grant available from Leitrim County Council and the potential revisions to the grant scheme was provided at the November Planning, Economic and Infrastructure SPC. The proposed revisions focused on very limited funding being set aside from the allocated hedge cutting budget for genuine emergency situations, with strict eligibility criteria being applied concerning the loss of essential services. Running concurrently
Leitrim County Council will increase activity in pursuing landowners that do not act upon advisory hedge cutting notices in order to increase visibility around enforcement of same for the general public, the response continued and a revision of the Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme will be presented at the first SPC meeting of 2024 for discussion and approval.

Cllr McDermott said there was an issue in Manorhamilton before Christmas, "that transport hasn't been given to children going to school and we can't have that going forward."

He suggested a "strategy and a policy going forward that would be acceptable and sensible to us all" and added "if it's not dealt with, it will keep coming up every year."

Cathaoirleach, Cllr Justin Warnock noted the issue is being dealt with through the SPC. 

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke said he felt as though "I've been banging my head off a wall for twenty years about this" and said that until Leitrim County Council carries out a pilot scheme and "advertises the before and after effect of a hedge cut with a proper saw to cut the canopy that hangs over the road and stops road thawing and contributes to flooding", the issue will go unresolved.

Cllr Enda Stenson said he knew of one farmer who had to cut "the actual ash trees and it cost them a lot of money and should be shown as an example of what can be done and should be done."

Cllr Felim Gurn supported the motion saying that he understood there are buses refusing to travel local roads with overgrown hedges with Cllr Thomas Mulligan saying that he saw an example of "where neighbours came together" to take down a "huge trees that cost a lot of money but they could not avail of anything towards the cost."

He said that the hedge cutting grant which provides for €75 per km of roadside hedge would not "make a bit of difference to the cost of this job". 

Cllr Des Guckian said that where hedges are not being cut, "I'm asking officials to have the guts to take Coillte, the main offenders, and private owners to court and make an example of them."

Cllr Brendan Barry noted the council have written more than once to the relevant minister seeking funding and noted that the issue is further exacerbated by the current ash dieback problem nationwide. 
"The department has a responsibility to help landowners out after bringing the ash into the country, knowing the disease was prevalent in the countries the saplings were brought from."

He said if they are allowed to decay, he's fearful "people will be killed under them when they try to take them down."

He suggested writing again and asking for a response on the issue rather than just an acknowledgement. 

 
Cllr Sean McGowan also supported the motion saying the department has to "give some sort of support to landowners as it's a serious situation."

He was promised that the issue would be reviewed further at the Planning, Economic and Infrastructure SPC.