Roads Act, 1993 (Section 70) – Dangerous Structures, Trees etc

Roads Act, 1993 (Section 70) – Dangerous Structures, Trees etc

Maintenance of Hedges /Shrubs/Trees etc

Longford County Council wishes to bring to the notice of landowners and occupiers of land the potential hazards and dangers to road users where trees, shrubs, hedges or other vegetation are not maintained

Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 provides that

Owners and occupiers of lands along Public Roads are obliged to ensure that roadside hedges and trees do not present a hazard or obstruction to road users
Owners or occupiers of land should take all necessary care to ensure that the structures on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to those using a Public Road or to somebody carrying out maintenance or improvement work on it

Please be advised as follows:

Hedgerows along Public Roads that require cutting or trimming back should be cut immediately and all cuttings removed from the roads and verges.
Overhanging vegetation in urban areas should be cut back from footpaths and at junctions
Dead and unsafe trees on the roadside are particularly dangerous and should be removed immediately
Landowners are responsible for the cost of removing fallen trees from public roads.
Professional advice on the condition of roadside trees should be obtained from time to time
Longford County Council will under section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 serve a ‘Hedge Cutting Notice’ on those who do not carry out this obligation
Longford County Council will prosecute those who fail to comply with these Notices
To avoid harming wildlife and under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, incorporating section 46 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, the times for hedge and verge cutting are set out as follows.

Ø Hedge Cutting Season commences on the 1st of September 2026
Ø Hedge Cutting can be carried out over a period of 6 months
Ø Hedge Cutting to finish on the last day of February 2027

Longford County Council can take action where they consider that a hazard exists and seek the costs from Landowners where the Council have to carry out the work

Any member of the public who is aware of a hazard or safety issue can contact Longford County Council on roads@longfordcoco.ie

Paul Newell

A/Director of Services

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An tAcht um Bóithre, 1993 (Alt 70) – Struchtúir Chontúirteacha, Crainn etc.

Cothabháil Fálta Sceach / Toir / Crann etc.

Is mian le Comhairle Contae an Longfoirt a chur in iúl d’úinéirí talún agus do dhaoine a bhfuil talamh ina seilbh acu na guaiseacha agus na contúirtí a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ann d’úsáideoirí bóithre nuair nach ndéantar crainn, toir, fálta sceach nó fásra eile a chothabháil.

Foráiltear le hAlt 70 den Acht um Bóithre, 1993, go bhfuil

Dualgas ar úinéirí agus ar áititheoirí talún a chinntiú nach mbíonn fálta sceach agus crainn ar thaobh an bhóthair ina nguais nó ina mbac d’úsáideoirí bóithre.
Gur cheart d’úinéirí nó d’áititheoirí talún gach cúram is gá a ghlacadh lena chinntiú nach bhfuil na struchtúir ar a dtalamh, ná nach bhféadfadh siad a bheith, ina mbaol do dhaoine a úsáideann bóthar poiblí nó do dhuine atá i mbun obair chothabhála nó feabhsúcháin air.

Tabhair faoi deara an méid seo a leanas:

Ba cheart fálta sceach ar thaobh bóthair poiblí a bhfuil gá iad a ghearradh nó a bhearradh a ghearradh láithreach agus gach gearradh a bhaint de na bóithre agus de na himill bhóthair.
Ba cheart fásra atá ag crochadh anuas i gceantair uirbeacha a ghearradh siar ó chosáin agus ag acomhail.
Tá crainn marbha agus crainn neamhshábháilte ar thaobh an bhóthair an-chontúirteach agus ba cheart iad a bhaint láithreach.
Tá úinéirí talún freagrach as an gcostas a bhaineann le crainn a thit a bhaint de bhóithre poiblí.
Ba cheart comhairle ghairmiúil a fháil ó am go ham maidir le riocht na gcrann ar thaobh an bhóthair.
Faoi alt 70 den Acht um Bóithre, 1993, seirbheálfaidh Comhairle Contae an Longfoirt ‘Fógra Gearrtha Fálta Sceach’ orthu siúd nach gcomhlíonann an dualgas seo.
Déanfaidh Comhairle Contae an Longfoirt ionchúiseamh orthu siúd nach gcomhlíonann na Fógraí seo.
Chun dochar don fhiadhúlra a sheachaint agus faoi Alt 40 den Acht um Fhiadhúlra, 1976, lena n-ionchorpraítear alt 46 den Acht um Fhiadhúlra (Leasú), 2000, leagtar amach na hamanna le haghaidh fálta sceach agus imill bhóithre a ghearradh mar seo a leanas.

Ø Tosaíonn Séasúr Gearrtha na bhFálta Sceach an 1 Meán Fómhair 2026.
Ø Is féidir fálta sceach a ghearradh thar thréimhse 6 mhí.
Ø Ní mór Gearradh na bhFálta Sceach a bheith críochnaithe faoin lá deiridh de mhí Feabhra 2027.

Féadfaidh Comhairle Contae an Longfoirt beart a dhéanamh i gcás ina measann sí go bhfuil guais ann agus na costais a éileamh ar úinéirí talún i gcás ina gcaithfidh an Chomhairle an obair a dhéanamh.

Féadfaidh aon duine den phobal atá ar an eolas faoi ghuais nó faoi shaincheist sábháilteachta teagmháil a dhéanamh le Comhairle Contae an Longfoirt ag roads@longfordcoco.ie

Paul Newell

Stiúrthóir Seirbhísí Gníomhach