New grant scheme is proposed to help with hedge cutting in Limerick

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.