‘Urgent action needed on tree maintenance’
Cllr David Jones has called for urgent action on tree maintenance following Storm Darragh. In a statement, the Sinn Féin man expressed deep concern over the prolonged power outages experienced in the area, noting that he has never witnessed such extended disruptions.
“You would expect this to happen in coastal towns and villages that bear the brunt of the storms,” he stated.
Cllr Jones commended the dedication of local emergency crews, including those from ESB and Uisce Éireann, as well as Westmeath County Council staff who worked tirelessly to clear the aftermath of the storm.
“I reported 20 fallen trees, all of which were cleared in a timely manner. I want to credit all the outdoor staff and engineers who ensured our roads were safe,” he said.
He highlighted a critical issue that requires urgent attention: the maintenance of large roadside trees.
“Every time the power goes out, it seems to be due to branches or trees falling on electricity wires. I’ve raised this issue before: Landowners, the ESB and local authorities need to maintain or cut down these trees to prevent future outages,” Cllr Jones said.
The impact of the outages was particularly severe, and one constituent, aged 94, was without power for four days and others faced outages lasting five days.
“You don’t realise how dependent we are on electricity until you hear from individuals relying on panic buttons, electric wheelchairs, hoist, epilepsy alarms, and other essential devices.”
Cllr Jones also recounted harrowing incidents from the storm, including a tree that fell on a small house near Delvin and just missed a man sleeping in his bed, and another that narrowly missed a driver in Meath but destroyed their jeep.
“These incidents highlight the urgent need for action,” he stated.
Cllr Jones is calling for a fund from the central government to address the risks posed by roadside trees. He supports the innovative idea of “knocking down a tree and planting three further away from the road” as a sustainable approach to tree management.
Cllr Jones concluded by praising all those involved in the clean-up efforts following Storm Darragh.