Safety concerns over overhanging tress on busy road in Tullamore

Overhanging trees along Charleville Road have sparked safety concerns, with Councillor Declan Harvey calling on Offaly County Council to take action.

He has urged the council to contact the landowners and request that the trees and hedgerows encroaching onto the footpath be trimmed back, warning that they now pose a hazard for pedestrians.

The period for hedge cutting runs from September 1 2025 to the February 28 2026.

There is an onus on landowners to ensure that any trees and hedges on their property:

• Do not obstruct or interfere with the safe use of the public road

• Do not obstruct or interfere with the maintenance of the public road

• Do not pose a hazard to people using the public road.

Hedgerows along the public road that require cutting or trimming back should be cut immediately and all cuttings removed from the roads and verges. Adequate signposting should be provided.

Roadside trees should be inspected and necessary action taken to prevent any potential hazard to the public. ''Such inspections should be carried out by suitably qualified personnel,'' the council states.

Liability for damage or injury resulting from such hazards will rest with the landowner/occupier.

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Where Japanese Knotweed occurs it should not be cut. No ground disturbance should take place at these sites at any time of year. Information on how to deal with Japanese Knotweed is available from the Heritage Office and all locations should be reported to the Heritage Office at Offaly County Council.