'Top-heavy' trees on Mayo roads are a 'danger' to the public

Mayo County Council must intervene to cut down overhanging trees near roads instead of constantly reiterating it is a matter for the landowners involved, an Erris councillor has stated.

Belmullet-based Cllr Gerry Coyle told the December meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that even after some roadside trimming by council staff, the roads are “still as bad as ever with trees broken and hanging over the roads".

“For the life of me, I cannot understand how trees are left overhanging the roads waiting to come down on people and the power lines," the Fine Gael councillor said. "They should be cut back away from the road. 

"In Erris, the power is out every three minutes from trees falling. It is out of control. The road to Belmullet was closed for days and the council still didn’t clear the situation.” 

Louisburgh Cllr Chris Maxwell said the recent Storm Darragh had caused a lot of damage to trees and asked that the council cut them back once and for all. 

“Money is being sadly wasted having to keep doing the trees along roads instead of just cutting them all down and we would be finished with this and not back every year with the same story.” 

Belmullet-based Cllr Sean Carey said there was a canopy of trees beside the R312 into Erris and lorry drivers were having their mirrors broken because of it. 

“The lower hedging was cut but not the higher ones. Can we get it done properly for once and for this situation to be alleviated?" he asked.

Cllr Coyle said he was sick of being told about road safety and changes to speed limits when anyone going along the R312 was being put in danger due to how the trees were being managed.

Westport-based Cllr John O’Malley said the council was "hedging" the trees and "leaving them top-heavy".

“We are as well to just leave them because one shower of snow or water will bring them down. It’s just senseless removing the sides and leaving the tops, it makes the roads more dangerous.” 

The head of the municipal district Seamus O'Mongáin said he would contact the roads section in the council to highlight the members’ concerns, adding: “But I would point out it is the responsibility of the landowner to maintain the trees on their properties and the bulk of these are on private property.” 

He also suggested to councillors that “there are hedge-cutting notices that can be issued on particular properties”.