6 October 2019
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
In an effort to raise awareness on tree and hedge cutting, Cork County Council is reminding landowners that they are obliged, under the Roads Act of 1993, to take all reasonable care to ensure that trees, ditches, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not a danger to people using or working on a public road and that liability for damage or injury resulting from such hazards will rest with the landowner/occupier.
Notices and announcements will be appearing in local press and radio over the coming weeks as part of the Council’s Awareness Raising Campaign. Examples of hazards outlined by the Council include dead or dying trees, ditches or hedges interfering with traffic, blocking footpaths, obscuring road signs, public lighting, or road users’ visibility.
The awareness campaign highlights that landowner are required to fell, cut, log, trim or remove such trees, ditches and hedges and that particular attention should be given to damaged or weakened trees or limbs and stumps of felled trees as a result of storms and the that all necessary work should be carried out while hedges are dormant between now and the end of February next year.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan added “Hedgerows are vital to biodiversity and it’s important that landowners keep in mind that any cutting, grubbing and burning of vegetation on uncultivated land between 1st March and 31st August is prohibited under the Wildlife Act. This type of work should be carried out while hedges are dormant between the start of September and the end of February so now is the perfect time to get it done. I encourage landowners to check out www.pollinators.ie to learn more about protecting wildlife and promoting biodiversity on their lands”.
The Council awareness raising campaign also reminds all landowners and occupiers that notices may be served on those who do not comply with their statutory obligations.
