Hedge cutters told they would be reported

EFFORTS to cut back hedges that were damaging truck mirrors were halted when work men were told they would be reported to the Department of the Environment.

The matter was highlighted by Councillor John O'Malley at a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting.

He had asked the council to trim bushes a few weeks ago as they were damaging mirrors on trucks. But they had only 50 metres done when someone came along and said they were reporting it, so they had to stop.

How did the hedges get into that state in the first place, he asked. A local had told him they hadn't been cut for five years. The trees were literally joining across the road.

Councillor Christy Hyland also highlighted an incident where a bin lorry couldn't get up a road because of overgrown trees, and similarly with a milk lorry.

With the bins, if that continued you would be looking at a health hazard, he said.

Regarding the reporting of cutting out of season, there is a balance, he said, directive or not. In an emergency situation he would hold that you should be able to cut those hedges.