Uncut trees causing problems for road users in Laois village

A local councillor has requested for Laois County Council to cut back trees which are causing issues on a busy local road in a Laois village.

Cllr Aisling Moran told Laois County Council at the March meeting of the Graiguecullen/Portarlington MD that trees are causing problems on the link road between the N78 and the L7972 at Ballylinan. 

The trees are "coming out across the road" and particularly affecting trucks, according to Cllr Moran.

Despite signage prohibiting trucks driving down the link road from the main village of Ballylinan, the Independent councillor noted that trucks still in fact use the road.

The trees are then hitting these trucks and, as Cllr Moran put it, they are "coming out on top of the house that's on the opposite side of the road."

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The last time the trees were trimmed back at this section of the road was four years ago, she told the council. 

Senior Executive Engineer at Laois County Council, Tom Drennan, said the council will carry out an assessment to identify and schedule in any trees for trimming that are potentially impacting the public road network at either side of the junction. 

As issues with tree trimming is a persistent problem raised by local councillors, Cllr Moran asked the council whether it is their responsibility each time trees are to be cut back or do landowners have a role to play.

Cllr Aidan Mullins also queried this issue, and asked if landowners fail to cut back trees after they are requested to do so does the council have any ability to take them in charge.

Laois County Council responded that they were unsure regarding taking them in charge, but there legal proceedings where they can issue warnings to landowners.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme