It’s claimed farmers across Clare are afraid to cut dangerous roadside hedges amid fears of contravening wildlife law.
Clare County Council is set to write to the Department of the Environment seeking flexibility on the hedge cutting season amid serious road safety concerns.
Broken wing mirrors and windows, paint scratches and roads too narrow for multiple vehicles to safely pass are just some of the issues listeners across Clare and councillors have been inundated with due to vegetation growth on local roads.
As it stands, hedges can only be trimmed between September 1st and February 28th.
In recent years, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has issued fines of between €1,000 and €6,000 to farmers found cutting hedges outside of this window.
Corofin Councillor Joe Killeen however, insists this needs to be ammended given the road safety risks.
Last year, 42 applications were approved in Clare under the Community Hedge Cutting Scheme, which has a total budget of just €25,000.
While a separate budget of €225,000 is available through the Municipal Districts for hedge cutting as well.
Whitegate Councillor and Farmer Pat Burke believes the dates for cutting hedges should be brought forward by a month, but ultimately that landowners need to take responsibility.
A Kilmurry Heavy Goods Vehicle Driver meanwhile is calling for roadside hedges to be exempted from the wildlife act all year round.
Councillor Alan O’Callaghan believes the Road Safety Authority needs to step up.
You can listen to the full interview here:
