Take notice that under the terms of the Roads Act 1993, landowners and occupiers of land are obliged to take all reasonable care to ensure that the trees, ditches, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not or could not become a danger to people using or working on a public road.
Liability for damage or injury resulting from such hazards will rest with the landowner/occupier.
Examples of hazards might be dead or dying trees, ditches or hedges interfering with traffic, blocking footpaths, obscuring road signs, public lighting, or road users’ visibility.
You are required to fell, cut, log, trim or remove such trees, ditches and hedges.
Particular attention should be given to damaged or weakened trees or limbs and stumps of felled trees as a result of storms.
Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning etc. of any vegetation on uncultivated land between 1st March and 31st August. Hence work should be carried out while hedges are dormant between the start of September and the end of February.
Notices may be served on landowners and occupiers who do not comply with their statutory obligations.
Adequate signposting should be provided and the Council and Gardai notified before works commence.
Landowners are encouraged to protect wildlife and promote biodiversity on their hedgerows and information on this is available at the following website https://pollinators.ie/
If you require any further advice, please contact your local County Council Municipal District Engineer’s Office.
