Overhanging bushes damaging vehicles on Laois road

Overhanging branches are bringing truck and tractor mirrors in Killeshin, a Councillor has said. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan wants the Council to cut back the branches on the road. 

He asked in a motion: “That Laois County Council cut back the bushes on the Cuts Road in Killeshin”.

Cllr Brennan said tractors and other high vehicles had created “an arch there on the road” through the foliage. 

In response, Senior Executive Engineer, Tom Drennan, said “Laois County Council recently issued a Section 70 Hedge Cutting Notice to the landowners with no response to date. Please note responsibility lies with all landowners to maintain the hedgerows, overgrown hedges on the public road network. Laois County Council will follow up on this with the property owner with a view to ensuring their hedgerows are trimmed back accordingly.” 

Cllr Brennan said one of the landowners was in his 80s and in hospital. “The other one, you know who it is,” he said. 

He said the branches overhanging the road were big and “they are breaking the mirrors of tractors and diggers”. 

“One farmer has broken his mirror three times on it now,” he told the meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District. 

Cllr Brennan said some drivers are choosing to use other routes because they know they will damage their vehicles on the road. 

He said he has had the same motion down three times in relation to the trees and nothing has yet been done. 

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran seconded the motion and said the vast majority of landowners do manage their hedgerows. 

She asked what sort of a timeline was involved in taking action against landowners who failed to manage hedgerows near roads. 

Senior Executive Engineer, Tom Drennan, said three letters would be issued by the Council before legal proceedings are commenced through the courts. 

Cllr Moran said she believed the fines were too small.

Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins said the Council needed to take a closer look at the types of trees being proposed for developments at the planning stage. He said there have been ongoing issues with tree roots damaging paths and branches blocking the light from public lighting.