Hedgecutting still a ‘thorny issue’ for council

Hedge cutting still a ‘thorny issue’ for council


Ciara Galvin

THE ‘thorny issue’ of hedge cutting could be addressed with the help of such organisations as the IFA and Eircom. The contentious activity undertaken by Mayo County Council each year could be helped if the idea proposed by the Roads and Transportation Strategic Committee is brought to fruition.
Director of Services Paddy Mahon told the committee that following discussions with various groups regarding hedge cutting, the Irish Farmers Association, Road Haulage Association Eircom, the Department of Agriculture and the National Parks and Wildlife have indicated interest in aiding the council.
Mr Mahon proposed that the committee engage in talks with the various groups and council engineers in order to explore a solution to the problematic issue.
Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Damien Ryan agreed with Mr Mahon’s proposal and said it was time to review hedge cutting policy.
“Road safety goes hand in hand with hedge cutting and that must supersede the bloody birds,” said Cllr Ryan.
The Fianna FΡil councillor added that it was important to look at ‘value for money’ and suggested that the council look to tender kilometres of road rather than a per hour rate.
Sinn Féin councillor Rose Conway Walsh said the council should also bring in other farming organisations and could look at engaging the Rural Social Scheme and the NRA in the hedge cutting programme.
“I see this as a crisis point in the county. In the last five to six years roads budgets have been cut,” said Fine Gael councillor Patsy O’Brien.
He continued: “It doesn’t matter how many groups come together, it’s down to funding and how much they are willing to put forward. If there isn’t financial input it will fail.”
Describing hedge cutting as a ‘thorny issue’, Cllr Cyril Burke agreed to seek help from external groups and suggested that a pilot programme be adopted by a number of parishes in the county. Chairperson of the committee, Cllr Annie Mae Reape, said the issue would remain on the agenda into the future and said the issues suggested could be built on in future.