Overgrown verges are 'creating a deathtrap' on Mayo roads

A councillor is calling on Mayo County Council to carry out verge trimming at dangerous road junctions in the Louisburgh area where overgrown foliage is blocking visibility.

Cllr Chris Maxwell told council management at the June meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that he had received "a good few calls about verge cutting around Louisburgh".

"This is one of the busiest tourism areas in West Mayo but the verges at junctions for beaches and harbours and where people are going to the islands are a disgrace.

“People’s lives are at stake. The Kilsallagh main crossroads is a deathtrap, the junction at the Roonagh road is deadly dangerous as is the one at Old Head. There was colossal traffic with the bit of heat we had there for a few days, it was very dangerous and it is just lucky there were no accidents.” 

The Independent Ireland councillor said the junction at Kilgeever and the R335 was another busy road with overgrown trees along it that is used by many as a shortcut, urging management: “Get these junctions trimmed and leave the area safe at least for our own local people. Two years ago, we had our famous signs for the speed limit put up with just the line across them and nobody knew what they were, but now you cannot even see them, because the trees have them covered up. It is just ridiculous.” 

Head of the municipal district Seamus Ó Mongáin told members that verge cutting is bound by seasonal regulations and that only junctions where health and safety is an issue can be done, adding that council workers had commenced working systematically through these since the previous Friday. 

Cllr Maxwell said he would be quicker to get a team of local volunteers to go out and cut the hedges themselves, if only the bird-nesting rules were not in place, he added: “This is where Mayo County Council needs to take the lead.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.