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Jerome O'Connell, 28 Sep
LIMERICK councillor Elena Secas is calling on Limerick City and County
Council to introduce a community hedge cutting grant scheme, similar to
the schemes available in Clare, Leitrim and Cork.
Cllr Secas said: “A Community Hedge Cutting Grant Scheme has already
been introduced in Clare, Leitrim and Cork. This scheme is a joint
approach with local communities, resident groups and landowners to
address the cutting of roadside overhanging hedges and trees.
“This scheme will provide financial assistance to communities and local
resident groups who wish to undertake overhanging trees and hedge
cutting for safety reasons, and will also assist landowners to comply
with their responsibilities under Section 70 of the 1993 Roads Act.
“There are currently country roads where overhanging trees/hedges are a
big safety concern, with overgrown ditches, nettles and briars hanging
out so far on the road in that it makes impossible for people to use
those roads for a walk, which otherwise they would normally use
regularly for walks.
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“However, whenever we raise these concerns with the Council the
response is the same all the time, namely that it is the responsibility
of the landowners under Section 70 of the 1993 Roads Act to maintain
hedges/ditched adjoining their properties.
“This is really frustrating for people who need to use these country
roads for walks and if we are serious about sustainable mobility and
active travel, and wish to encourage people to move away from car use,
then we should do everything possible to make the roads safer and more
attractive for people to use for their walks,” she outlined.