RESPECTING THE “birds and the bees” has led to “briars and bushes” kissing each other across South Clare, the Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District has said.
A “vast increase in areas of grassland” in Shannon was flagged by Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) at this month’s sitting of the Shannon Municipal District. “I assume there is a proposal to increase the grass land, the parks have gone wild, we’ve no choice but to let them, it is a huge change. We need to let people know in advance, is there a proposal to increase the grassland, we need signage and to explain why”.
Cllr Mulcahy told the meeting that he had spoken already with senior executive engineer, Tom Mellett regarding the Wetlands. “We need to inform people properly, we need a plan in advance of something happening not to let it wild and then explain it”.
Mellett advised the meeting that they were nearing the end of their current grass cutting contract, “We intend to tender it out in late winter or early spring”. He added, “we will be looking to increase areas to get grass grow particularly in non-amenity areas, it will be happening towards the back end of autumn”.
Shannon based Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) stated, “it is very important for us on the ground, we’re being contacted on the ground asking us why weren’t we informed”.
Climate action co-ordinator with Clare County Council, Morgan Lahiffe was deputising for Director of Service, Alan Farrell. He told councillors, “They use the term managed for wildlife, the key word is managed, some people are of the opinion that it is let go wild, the term wild is good for biodiversity”.
Agreement was voiced by Cllr McGettigan, “Five meadows have been well managed here and it is going great, they have QR codes on them”.
On the subject of grass cutting and management of same, Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) commented, “I know we are within rules and regulations with the birds and the bees, we have roads in rural parts of our Municipal District where the briars and bushes are nearly kissing each other at the other side of the road, when you go up the likes of Gallows Hill, Meelick and Ardnacrusha”.
Visibility is reduced as a result with “big lorries” posing a risk at different bends in South Clare, he said. “My phone is ringing three or four times a day from different parts of the MD which are rural”.
Senior engineer Mellett stated that the hedge cutter was currently on the ground across the Municipal District, “our focus is on sightlines and on health and safety”.
Newly elected Cllr David Griffin (FF) questioned if councillors could influence the already agreed schedule of works for hedge cutting. “You have influence, you can bring it to our attention,” Mellett responded.
“With No Mow May and that there was nothing cut, across all over villages you can see they were let go. The hedgerows on minor roads are fairly bad,” Cllr John Crowe (FG) stated.
