Council to consider imposing maximum height for trees

Westmeath County Council are to examine whether they should impose a maximum height on trees in housing estates.

The move comes at the suggestion of Cllr Aoife Davitt, who said she had raised the issue before and understood it was to be considered by an SPC. The official response to her request from the council stated that the environment section was unaware of any policy on height restrictions but that a tree management policy is in preparation by the environment and climate section.

“When planting, it is important that the right tree should be selected for the potential of any site and then allowed to grow to their full natural size/height,” the reply concluded.

Cllr Davitt said she was concerned that there had been several instances of trees being blown over – which was a danger in housing estates – and so she was of the view that there should be a limit on the height of trees.

Director of services Deirdre Reilly said the matter could be put on the work programme for the SPC for discussion.

Dalton Park

At the same meeting, Cllr Davitt asked that the district make good the last remaining back lane in Dalton Park. Explaining the importance of the motion, Cllr Davitt said that the lane backs on to Assumption Villas and oil deliveries to the families on that lane are being disrupted because the lorries cannot drive in and drive out.

The response to her request stated that the district had recently erected gates along one of the cul-de-sacs in Dalton Park to prevent illegal dumping. If that is successful, the municipal district will consider the erection of gates along the remaining cul-de-sac, the reply concluded.

“The gate would be fabulous but the first thing that needs to be completed is actually the surface,” Cllr Davitt said.

Ballinea

A further request from Cllr Davitt was that the district clear the debris on the pull-in areas at Bellmount, Ballinea. To that, she received an undertaking that the work would be done within the following week.

She also asked that the district make good the water-cut at the bottom of Bellmount Bridge and was told the district will carry out that work as part of normal road maintenance.