Drivers of trucks, buses and tractors are experiencing more damaged mirrors than other motorists, East Clare representatives have flagged due to a poor standard of hedge cutting.
Regional roads are causing difficulties for truck, bus and tractor drivers, Cllr Pat Burke (FG) has outlined due to the height of hedge cutting works conducted. He has called on Clare County Council to increase hedge cutting works and the height of same. Liaising will follow with all Municipal Districts in the county, senior engineer John Leahy stated. He noted that “a consistency of approach” is needed.
An extension of the hedge-cutting works which began on September 1st is required to solve the issue, Cllr Burke believed. “It is not good enough that lorry drivers and truck drivers are experiencing difficulty on these regional roads”. The Whitegate representative estimated that the additional works wouldn’t “cost a fortune”. He added, “The contractor only cuts so high, it is fine for people in a car but it isn’t for drivers of a truck, tractor or bus, it is not good enough that they have to pull up when they meet each other on the road”.
As he seconded the motion, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) commented, “There are some landowners doing fantastic work but unfortunately sections of road aren’t being done which is a disgrace”.
Hedge cutting is consistently brought before the Council by a minority of councillors, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) remarked. “It is very important that it gets three cuts. As an operator of heavy goods vehicles, I know the cost of replacing mirrors, you could be talking about €700 to fix one mirror, it is a crazy situation”. Funding should be forthcoming from the Government to address the matter, the Cratloe representative declared.
Replies are fine but a plan of action is more pressing, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) maintained. “You need to be able to drive from Ennis to Whitegate and down to Killaloe without having to pull in. We need to do something about it and allocate money in the roadworks programme”.
Subsequent to hedge-cutting being ignored by certain landowners, it is causing overhanging branches reaching the middle of some roads, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) detailed. “It is a huge safety concern that it’s forcing you out into the middle of the road. There is no light getting into these parts of the road”.
