Call to extend hedge-cutting season

Local councillors are calling for an extension to the statutory hedge-cutting season, which ends this month.

The 2023/2024 hedge-cutting season commenced on September 1 and is due to come to an end on February 29. The Wildlife Act prohibits the cutting, burning or destruction of any vegetation growing on uncultivated land, or in a hedge or ditch, during the period March 1 to August 31. This is to ensure the safety of birds and other wildlife.

But at last week’s meeting of Tipperary Co Council, several councillors sought an extension of the cutting season of at least two weeks. Cllr John Carroll said the farming sector is “under huge pressure” after a sustained period of bad weather extending back to the last July. He appreciated the need for wildlife safety as well as road safety, and said “common sense” should prevail in the matter.

Cllr Carroll went on to speak of the damage caused to roads by the inclement weather, particularly in areas where rivers have burst their banks.

Cllr Michael Fitzgerald said the country has sustained the worst period of rainfall seen in a very long time. The last three months in particular have seen roads “torn asunder”; upland areas have especially suffered. Milk contractors would refuse to drive on some damaged roads, and Cllr Fitzgerald feared a similar situation when the silage season starts.

Cllr John Rocky McGrath supported the call to extend the hedge-cutting season by another two weeks, saying the hedge-cutting contractors are “way behind” in trying to catch up with their workload.

EMERGENCY PLAN

He said roads across the county have suffered as a result of the deluges of rain experienced since last summer and he called for an emergency plan of remedial works.

Cllr Joe Hannigan wanted the authorities to devise a plan for upgrading the N52 between Ballingarry and Borrisokane, saying it is the only section of the national route still awaiting upgrade. Cllr Hannigan again asked whether Tipperary is getting “our fair share” when it comes to allocating state funding for roads.

Cllr Noel Coonan agreed that the bad weather has prevented hedge-cutting and said the season would have to be extended, or many areas would be left with overgrown hedges. On the subject of road safety, he mentioned a recent accident on the N62 at Templemore where there is no footpath. A more serious accident is waiting to happen there, and “don’t say you weren’t warned about it,” Cllr Coonan commented.

Cllr Fiona Bonfield said the council’s outdoor staff would need help tackling road repairs. Extra resources would help to get the work done, she agreed.

Echoing this sentiment was Cllr Máirín McGrath, who mentioned the “huge growth” of vegetation seen last summer, which still poses a problem despite the bad weather.

Another call for emergency funding in the wake of excessive rainfall came from Cllr Phyll Bugler, who said the R496 at Ballina has been “destroyed” and needs to be reinstated. She hoped that the R494 would be reopened to traffic by the target of next May.

The Cathaoirleach, Cllr Ger Darcy supported the call for extra time for hedge-cutting and made the point that there was only one sustained break from the rainfall of around a fortnight last September.

‘CAP-IN-HAND’

“We would be entitled in going cap-in-hand looking for funding,” he said. But despite the bad weather, Cllr Darcy pointed out that the council succeeded in tackling a lot of poor condition ‘red roads’ last year. On the subject of Ballingarry, he called for enhanced public lighting in the village.

Director of Services Marcus O’Connor said the council could write to the Dept of Transport in search of an extension but doubted the chance of success, pointing out that the hedge-cutting season is set out in the Wildlife Act. The council has advertised about landowner obligations with regard to hedge-cutting and a lot of work been done, Mr O’Connor said.

He agreed that the weather of the last number of months has been “absolutely shocking” and has taken its toll on many roads.

The council’s staff would take every chance they could get out and tackle repairs.

Mr O’Connor said reopening of the R494 is on target for May. The lights in Ballingarry will be upgraded as part of the National Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Project (PLEEP), which will see 11,600 lights upgraded to LED across Tipperary. The council would be meeting Transport Infrastructure Ireland this month to discuss speeding and footpaths in Ballingarry.

Responding to concerns raised by Cllr Eddie Moran over speeding in Borrisoleigh, Mr O’Connor said a raised pedestrian crossing in the centre of the town would help the situation.