Hedge-cutting fund is trimmed

Kildysart county councillor Oliver Garry has expressed concerns that drastic cuts in hedge-cutting and verge-trimming funds will result in very few local roads in West Clare having overhanging hedges or dangerous verges trimmed.

Recent cutbacks in Clare County Council’s roadworks programme means that just €25,000 will have to cover the entire cost of hedge cutting and verge trimming 1,000km of roads in West Clare.
In 2007, Clare County Council had a county-wide hedge-cutting fund of €380,000 but that figure was cut to €100,000 for 2010.
“In a scenario like that, the only roads that get attention are the national secondary roads and sections of regional routes,” Councillor Garry predicted.
At the recent Kilrush Electoral Area meeting of West Clare’s six county councillors, Councillor Garry stressed the need, from a safety prospective, of trimming verges and hedges on strategic routes between towns and villages in the west of the county.
“The director of services seems to be putting the onus on landowners to maintain their roadside hedges. While I agree that hedges should be maintained, roadside verge trimming should be the responsibility of the local authority, as this is county council property,” he added.
Urging a review, Councillor Garry said that under Section 70 of the 1993 Roads Act, landowners are not responsible for treating overhanging trees or vegetation.
The issue has been placed on the agenda for the Special Policy Committee Planning, Land and Transportation meeting on October 18.