Devine seeks action over ash dieback on roadsides

Fears that trees affected by ash dieback may lead to tragedy on roads in Westmeath were expressed by Cllr Alfie Devine at a meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad.

“There are hundreds, if not thousands, of trees along roads that are in the process of dying and with the stormy season approaching are going to be a major hazard for pedestrians and traffic,” the Fianna Fáil man warned as he asked that the district outline how it proposes to tackle the hazard.

The written reply to Cllr Devine’s query stated that the district employs a specialist to examine trees along public roads and that tree pruning and tree felling are carried out “on a required basis” along public roads by Westmeath County Council contractors.

Cllr Devine asked if the onus to remove dead or dying trees was the responsibility of the landowner or the council, and district engineer, Pat Kavanagh, said each year the council serves “well over” 1,000 tree-cutting and hedge-cutting notices to landowners, but where a tree is in a public location, the council deals with it.

“Generally, we have a positive response from most people,” Mr Kavanagh said, adding that in cases where landowners do not cooperate, the council may intervene if they feel a tree is causing a danger.