Residents along Limerick rail line 'struggle to sleep' after hedges chopped

RESIDENTS living alongside the Limerick-Foynes rail line are struggling to sleep at night now hedgerows outside their homes have been chopped away.

That’s according to councillors who passed a motion at this month’s metropolitan meeting calling for the issue to be addressed.

In readiness of the return of freight traffic to the rail line, Irish Rail has removed vegetation.

But given the proximity of many homes to the Limerick to Cork road, these trees and hedges were muffling the noise from the carriageway.

Fianna Fail councillor Fergus Kilcoyne said one woman has installed triple-glazed windows as a result of the increased noise.

“That alone was not successful that she now has to sleep in the front of her home,” he added.

It was the Patrickswell councillor who introduced the notice of motion which was supported by all other council members.

Councillor Dan McSweeney of Fine Gael said some residents are “living a nightmare.”

It was Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan who seconded the motion.

She said: “The sound levels from the M20 have increased all along from Ballinacurra out to Patrickswell. We need to see some action taken on it.”

She said the only sustainable way of mitigating noise in these circumstances is hedges and trees.

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But Cllr Kilcoyne has called for sound barriers to be introduced.

“Effective noise cancellation” was something that Fine Gael councillor Daniel Butler called for.

“It’s impacting people right along the route of the Irish Rail line. For some of the residents, particularly those in Kilteragh, all that’s separating them is the back wall. What’s been keeping them sane and secure has been a flourishing hedgeline. The aggressive levels Irish Rail cut back the hedgeline is devastating,” he said.

On top of additional noise, the loss of hedgeline has tallied with an increase in anti-social behaviour, added the former mayor.

Metropolitan district leader, Cllr Azad Talukder also supported the calls for noise measures.

The council’s manager in the metropolitan district, Kieran Lehane said a presentation on noise mitigation would be provided to members.

The Leader contacted Irish Rail for comment, but had not received a response at the time of going to press.