Call for Cork City Council to rescind tree cutting notice in Mayfield

CORK City Council is being called on to rescind a notice given to residents and landowners of Burke’s Hill in Mayfield, instructing them to cut trees along the road.

Residents were instructed in the letter to “cut back all road boundary tree/hedges along your property” within 30 days or face prosecution.

Under Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993, landowners and occupiers of land are obliged to take all reasonable care to ensure that trees, ditches, hedges etc growing on their land are not or could not become a danger to people using or working on a public road.

A diagram which accompanied the letter sent to Mayfield residents claimed that it was a necessity to have a 6m square of clearance along the road.

But the Green Party in Cork have pointed out that the road itself is only 3m wide and is impassible by tall vehicles who would require this space, such as articulated lorries and double-decker buses.

Green Party councillor for Cork City North East, Oliver Moran, said: “This is a narrow road, not very suitable to a lot of traffic, but it’s enjoyed as an amenity by walkers and provides important tree canopy and biodiversity.

“The notice provided to residents and landowners is entirely unsuitable for it – no one is objecting to the necessary hedge-trimming but the consequence of landowners removing over 1km of trees will be devastating.”

One group of landowners, who own the majority of land along one side of the 1.5km of roadway, have reportedly already begun work clearing trees on their properties on foot of the notice.

Another homeowner has been quoted several thousand euros to perform the works, while some elderly neighbours were said to feel threatened and worried by the letter.

Cllr Moran added: “The irony is that the city will shortly be publishing its trees strategy, which will identify trees on private land as being among the most important in the city.

“At the same time, instructions like this one are going out that seemingly leave residents with no way out except to clear them.

“This road will never see an articulated lorry or a double-decker bus, it’s a narrow historic road that’s bordered by nature on each side and enjoyed by walkers for that reason.”

He recommended rescinding it at once before any more trees were cut back, saying: “The notice should be taken back immediately before more damage is done.”