Coillte have been urged to maintain an annual hedge-cutting maintenance programme for all lands with road frontage.
Speaking at this week’s meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District in Laois County Council, Cllr Barry Walsh called on the state-owned forestry company to manage the hedges on the land they own that are alongside public roads.
Cllr Walsh said that he had raised a similar motion in December 2023 but that there had been “no noticeable improvement or action”.
He was calling for an annual plan for “all lands with road frontage within the Portlaoise MD and Laois county area”.
He also specifically mentioned the Graiguenahowan Spink area “which cause a potentially hazardous situation for road traffic and remain unkept and dangerous presently”.
A response from Laois County Council said they would engage with Coillte but that some of the hedges may be on private boundaries.
“I understand that and if that’s the case it’s that land owners responsibility,” said Cllr Walsh.
“But there is definitely some of Coillte’s out in the middle of the road and it’s causing a proper traffic.
“They’re not even responding. We may get enagement … with land comes responsibility, the same as anyone else.”
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