Councillor calls for new system to tackle hedge cutting crisis
A Donegal County Councillor believes that a new system has to be established in order to tackle the growing problem of hedge cutting.
Sinn Féin councillor Brian Carr highlighted the problem at a recent sitting of the Glenties Municipal District meeting in Dungloe.
Carr said he believes his motion would have the full backing and support of councillors from all over Donegal.
"I have been inundated with calls in relation to hedge cutting. It has undoubtedly been the biggest issue over the last few weeks - and I think I'll have the support of not only every councillor in the Glenties MD area, but across the county with this motion.
"I know that the hedge cutting only recommenced on September 1, and the majority of landowners are doing their bit, but a small minority are not playing ball, and they are causing huge problems for everyone else," said Carr.
Carr says walking groups have been forced to change their routes, and a number of bus operators have faced issues due to some roads being unpassable due to overgrown shrubbery and hedges.
Carr also expressed his frustration at the 'Groundhog Day' feeling that comes with this topic every year.
"This is my third year on the council, and the same issue surfaces every single year, and we don't ever seem to do anything about it. Every year we hear how it is the responsibility of landowners, but there needs to be a system put in place.
"We need a new system where people can report issues, and council officials can contact landowners directly to sort out the problem, because something really has to be done," said Carr.
His sentiments were echoed by independent councillor Michael McClafferty, who has called for households to step up to the plate to tackle the problem.
"Some people are just not cutting their own hedges, and it's just not good enough. I'm fed-up locally of hearing the old yarn of well I'm cutting my hedge, but such and such isn't looking after their own land.
"I believe that houses within townlands need to pay an annual fee to really meet this issue head-on. Each household could pay €40-50 a year and hire somebody to come into the area and do the work that is required," said McClafferty.
McClafferty highlighted how some roads are unpassable, and said that there really needs to be collective responsibility taken.
"I really do believe homeowners in townlands need to take the lead on this, there's no point in 2 or 3 houses looking after their own patch, and then further down the road everything is overgrown and roads are unpassable.
It's as huge problem, the council can't cut them all, and they won't, so there's needs to be collective responsibility," said McClafferty.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.