Overgrown hedgerows pose safety risk, while hauliers complain of losing mirrors
Hedge-cutting is prohibited from March 1 to August 31.
Restrictions on hedge-cutting during summer months is leading to serious safety concerns.
Hedge-cutting is prohibited from March 1 to August 31, but there is an exemption in cases where overgrowth poses a road safety hazard.
According to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, this restriction is to protect bird life during the nesting season, to help prevent forest fires, and to protect vegetation and wildlife habitats during the months of growth and reproduction.
Cllr Liam Brazil said last week that he believes the restrictions on hedge cutting should be shortened.
“I do believe widening our roads and additional hedge cutting on our roads may prevent accidents,” he said.
“I don’t believe birds nest on the sides of roads anymore and I think people walking and driving on roads have to get priority. At this time of year the ditches will grow wide and a lot of children are going to school on these roads."
Cllr Seanie Power added, “The roads are so deceiving now with bushes and branches hanging out.
"In 30 years of cutting hedges I believe we’ve never done any harm to birds. Safety is important for people on walks and cars."
Waterford City and County Council Director of Services, Gabriel Hynes, said, "it's not for the local authority to extend the hedge cutting season and we can't do so. It's the National Parks and Wildlife Services' act and legislation."
Meanwhile, the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) have called on local authorities to ensure that roadside hedges are cut back, in particular at busy junctions.
IRHA President Ger Hyland said last week that "on average a medium-sized haulier is losing two mirrors a week on their truck fleet. That is a cost of €1,000 a week due to mismanagement of our roadside vegetation.”
Mr Hyland criticised local authorities for not enforcing the law around hedge cutting and called on them to be more proactive when engaging with local landowners who border our rural roads network.
