Councillors want action on roadside hedges and trees

Roadside hedges and overhanging trees once again dominated discussion at the September meeting of Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District.

Cllr Alfie Devine said there are “trees actually hanging dangerously in a lot of areas” and urged that landowners be pressed to act. Cllr David Jones went further, saying he had written “over five times” about one hedge without result: “I think we need to start cutting them ourselves and billing for it.”

Cllr Emily Wallace warned that heavy rain and winds had left large roadside trees vulnerable to collapse, creating a “real danger.”

District engineer Pat Kavanagh told members that hedge-cutting season began on 1 September and the council had already issued hundreds of notices. “Last year we sent out somewhere in the region of 1,400 notices. The majority of people do comply,” he said, though he admitted there are a small number who ignore repeated letters. In extreme cases, he said, the council could consider court action.

Conscious of the impending arrival of winter – with potential storms – councillors praised council staff for their rapid response to the devastation caused by Storm Éowyn earlier this year, but urged a review of communication policies.

Cllr Aoife Davitt said the amount of work achieved in the aftermath was “absolutely fantastic,” while Cllr Emily Wallace asked whether the council’s severe weather policy should be updated to improve the flow of information to residents.

Mr Kavanagh explained that a “Severe Weather Alert Team” meets quarterly and is activated during emergencies, liaising with Met Éireann, the gardaí, the Army and the National Emergency Service. Director of services Deirdre Reilly added that a national review of storm management is under way.

Cllr Wallace said councillors often feel “at a loss trying to get information out” to the public during storm events and suggested closer co-operation with the ESB and other agencies to prevent confusion.