Mayo councillor says it is lunacy not to cut back overhanging trees on busy road

An Erris councillor was told that the cutting of trees along the R312 which links Castlebar to Erris was the responsibility of council officials from Castlebar and Ballina.

Geesala-based Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle had blasted Mayo County Council for failing to cut branches of trees along the R312 which he said was blocking parts of the road and knocking electricity wires providing power to the barony.

“It is lunacy what is going on, they are ready to come down,” he told the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District.

“I cannot understand listening to people talk about road safety and reducing speed and yet there are trees overhanging ready to come down on someone's car. They need to be cut back altogether away from the roads and the powerlines and the phone lines. Power is out every minute with trees taking down cables,” he said

He was supported by his fellow Erris-based councillor Seán Carey who said that it was essential that trees growing over the road be cleared.

“Overhanging trees over the road is a big issue and there is a canopy formed on both sides. We had issues before with lorries and buses getting their mirrors broken. The trees lower down were done but up high they weren't done. Can we contact the road section and request these essential works done once and for all,” he said.

In response, Seamus Ó Mongáin, Head of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District said that he would contact the Roads section of Mayo County Council regarding it but added that most of the trees were outside their area of responsibility.

“Unfortunately the R312 falls outside the jurisdiction of the Westport/Belmullet MD [Municipal District] and straddles the Ballina and Castlebar MDs and we will bring it to their attention too.

“I have to point out that the trees are the obligations of the land owners and it is the responsibility to maintain the trees on their private property and the bulk of those we are describing are on private property unfortunately,” he said.

Cllr Coyle said he did not care who was responsible for that part of the road and wanted the matter resolved.

“We might be in different MDs but we are all Mayo County Council and if that is where it has to go it has to go until it is solved because it cannot be allowed to be left the way it is. I am sick to the eyebrows of people telling me about road safety and then having to go up that road,” he said.

Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell said trees were being choked with ivy and disease and felt it would not cost much to cut them down before they fell.

“Cut them down once and for all and we will be finished with it and not back year after year with the same story,” the Independent Ireland councillor said.