Councillors clash overhedge-cutting proposal

Tensions rose as two councillors clashed over another elected member’s proposal to call on Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, and Minister for Environment, Darragh O’Brien, to bring forward the date for hedge-cutting along roadsides to August 1.

Hedge cutting is prohibited between March 1 and August 31 under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 to protect nesting birds.

However, like elected members in Cork recently, Fine Gael’s Winston Bennett expressed an opinion that the banned period should be shortened for safety reasons.

Speaking at the July monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, Cllr Bennett claimed that overgrown hedges and verges are causing damage to vehicles and contributing to accidents. He welcomed where growth had been cut back at road entrances but believes much more could be done to address what he described as a “dangerous” situation.

Sinn Féin’s Noel Connell agreed that, in the interest of safety, something nees to be done. It seemed “ludicrous” to him that, where an eminent danger was presented, nobody could intervene.

There was a situation, he said, at the entrance to the Oaklands Park estate in Ballyjamesduff where overgrowth was forcing people to leave the footpath and step onto the road.

“It’s very concerning what’s going on there.”

Fine Gael’s Trevor Smith seconded the motion, adding that the weighing of health and safety over genuine environmental concern was causing “confusion”.

His party colleague Val Smith agreed; while Stiofán Conaty countered the argument, suggesting that there was a “reason for the dates”.

The clash occurred with the next speaker, Independent Ireland’s Shane P. O’Reilly who said he was “sick to death” hearing about “poor birds”.

He went on to state that there is too much focus on not cutting hedges for fear of interfering with “flora and fauna” at a time when there are lorries being damaged to the tune of up to €3,000 by overhanging branches.

“We have to get real here.”

The responsibility for hedge-cutting sits with the landowner, Cllr O’Reilly reminded.

In response, Director of Services Paddy Connaughton said the council had a direct responsibility for implementing climate action policy and incorporating biodiversity in its plans. He said any attempt to change the hedge-cutting season would require a legislative amendment.