A call for landowners, farmers and householders to ensure their roadside hedges and overhanging trees are cut and maintained so that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians can travel safely on our roads, has been made by Mayo County Council.
The hedge-cutting season is open from September 1 to February 28. Mayo County Council is calling on landowners / occupiers and householders in rural and urban areas, to ensure that roadside hedges are cut and maintained so that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians can travel safely on all roads and similarly over-hanging vegetation in urban areas be cut back from footpaths and at junctions, adding: " We would also like to thank them for their continuous work within communities making our roads safer, in Mayo."
Tom Gilligan, Director of Services with Mayo County Council, said: "We in the Roads Department of Mayo County Council have had numerous representations from road-users concerning the overgrown state of hedgerows and also overhanging trees along some of our rural roads and the serious road safety issues that can result.
"While we would like to compliment the many landowners who maintain their roadside hedges, there is also a significant number of landowners / occupiers and householders who fail to cut and maintain their roadside hedges, which can result in road safety issues on those roads.
"We are calling on them to be more proactive over the next few months to ensure that their roadside hedges and overhanging trees are maintained properly as they are obliged to do under the law.
"Japanese Knotweed should not be cut. No ground disturbance should take place at these sites at any time of year. Please report any instances of Japanese Knotweed to [email protected].
"Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 places responsibility for the maintenance of roadside hedges on the owners/occupiers of the adjoining lands.
"The season when hedgecutting is permitted under the Wildlife Act is between the start of September and the end of February the following year.
"This year Mayo County Council is planning to step up its awareness campaign at the start of September to remind landowners of their hedge-cutting responsibilities. This will include placing ads in local newspapers, on local radio and on the Council's website."
"Mayo County Council also carries out a verge cutting program on its road network. If you have any further queries in relation to hedge cutting in a particular area, you are advised to contact the relevant Municipal District Office.
"We always say road safety is a shared responsibility, so it’s about us all doing our share to make our roads safer and ensure the success of the road safety strategy."
