*Footpaths in Purcell Park, Shannon. Photograph: Joe Buckley
A REVISION IN POLICY surrounding overgrown trees and hedges has been sought by a Shannon-based county councillor.
Clare County Council were urged by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) “to revise their policy” regarding the overgrowth of trees and hedges from private property onto public footpaths across the Shannon Municipal District.
In a proposal before the Shannon MD, Cllr Flynn outlined, “the current policy of writing to property owners and requesting action is a long process and in the meantime the public cannot walk safely on footpaths and this is bringing huge inconvenience to many people and especially those people with disabilities”.
Vegetation has been cut back along a number of routes in the past twelve months “where the overgrowth is public in origin,” senior executive engineer Tom Mellett responded. He said that the County Council as a Roads Authority must act within the confines of the Roads Act 1993. “This Act places the onus on property owners to keep public roads free from vegetation. It specifies how a local authority must approach this issue and the responsibilities of a Roads Authority in this regard. The Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 also governs periods in which it is possible to cut,” he explained.
Speaking at a recent sitting of the Shannon MD, Cllr Flynn admitted he was “bemused” with the response received which he felt was “more akin to me requesting roads be dealt with”. Mellett clarified that the Roads Act defines the boundaries and said a footpath is “still part of a public road”. Flynn replied, “My constituents won’t make much sense of it, they’ll say you asked about footpaths but the road was the Council response. We need to be more proactive. We can’t be putting people onto roadways”.
Safety has been “brought into question,” Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) believed when recalling an occasion when a footpath had to be closed prompting pedestrians onto secondary paths in poorer condition.
Trees in dangerous conditions are leading to “expensive situations” for the local authority, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) noted. “It requires the service of a tree surgeon which brings a huge cost factor. It is there and it is going to get worse,” he commented. “Maturing trees close to the footpath cause another problem, the roots break through and damage tarmac,” Cllr Michael Begley (IND) observed.
