Leitrim roads under severe pressure from timber haulage, meeting hears

Some narrow roads in Leitrim are under severe strain due to private companies using them for timber haulage.

Cllr Mary Bohan proposed at a meeting of Leitrim County Council that the Council urgently review the conditions imposed on Coillte and private forestry companies regarding timber extraction and resulting road damage.

She noted that some roads need weight restrictions, highlighting a case where timber is being removed via particularly narrow roads, raising concerns among residents.

“I think we have some roads where weight restrictions certainly should be imposed. There’s no point in us spending lots of money repairing roads if Coillte and private forestry come along and damage them,” she said.

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Cllr Gary Prior seconded the motion, stating the issue affects all municipal areas. “There’s too big of loads coming down these narrow roads that aren’t meant for these double arctic loads,” he commented.

Cllr Bohan also argued that planning and felling licenses should come under planning control, giving the Council a greater oversight. She urged that the Department of Agriculture be contacted and required to consult the Council first to assess road suitability before issuing any license.

All forestry companies must obtain a Tree Felling License (TFL) from the Department of Agriculture, which forwards applications to local authorities for observations.

These observations - such as liaising with district engineers and agreeing on haul routes - are returned to the Department for consideration.

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However, the Department may grant the TFL with or without incorporating these observations, which is a key issue.

CEO of Leitrim County Council, Joseph Gilhooly, outlined the Council’s limited powers, noting that they cannot be selective when dealing with public roads and private operators. He emphasised that resolving the situation requires cooperation between organisations.