Portlaoise residents fear trees falling on house in storms

A tree expert is to be called in to Portlaoise to assess mature trees that are feared to fall on houses during high storms.

The row of trees is growing between Carmody Way, Higgins Park and Clonrooske Abbey, on "no-man's-land" according to a local councillor.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley tabled a motion to the October meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking the council to cut them back.

"This is going on well over five years. Tenants have contacted me over the years. I had two engineers down looking at them. It's a no-man's-land between Fairgreen and Clonrooske Abbey. There are massive lands along the boundary. 

"One couple say the tree has overgrown the height of their house. It's impacting on the whole side. The family that live there have fierce problems with dampness, the light is blocked out of the house. When you look along the whole boundary those trees are way out of control.

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"Given the storms recently, they are absolutely terrified that the tree is going to come in on the house," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

In reply, engineer Wes Wilkinson said that an arborist will be sought to "assess the trees and address any significant issues".

"They are very mature trees. The best way is to get a specialist to look at them and identify specific issues," he said.