Evidence of trees having been cut at Ladestown (file pic).

Locals confronted person chopping lakeshore trees for firewood – Davitt

Published: Tue 19 Jan 2021, 11:17 AM

Last updated: Tue 19 Jan 2021, 11:21 AM

A claim that someone has chopped down trees at one of Westmeath’s beauty spots and attempted to remove them for firewood has been made by Cllr Aoife Davitt.

The Fianna Fáil councillor made the revelation at the January meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad as she spoke on her motion calling on the district to erect or replace signs at Ladestown relating to camping, dumping and tree cutting.

Cllr Davitt revealed that one lunchtime recently, a local person came across someone chopping down trees at Ladestown, and taking the timber home with them.

She said that while Westmeath County Council staff had arrived quickly on the scene after being contacted, the culprits had left already, having been challenged by locals.

Director of services Martin Murray said that the signage at that location would be examined and replaced if deemed necessary, and the council would also look into the woodcutting issue.

Fleadh

A suggestion that the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad work with other bodies to decorate communications boxes in and around Mullingar to highlight heritage associated with Mullingar and Westmeath was made by Cllr Davitt at the same meeting.

Cllr Davitt said that especially with the all-Ireland fleadh coming, it would be a valuable exercise to promote the lakes, the Children of Lir legend and the links to Jonathan Swift. The response from the executive was that the matter would be referred to the Heritage Forum for consideration and interaction, if deemed feasible, with the utility companies.

Delvin Road

Cllr Davitt also asked for an update on the provision of pedestrian and cycle lanes from Lakepoint to the Dublin Bridge, and was informed that the substantial upgrade of the cycle lane on the Delvin Road, funded from the Active Travel Grant, has now been completed.