Cork County Council urged to crack down on landowners over overgrown roadside hedgesCork councillors say overgrown hedges and ditches are creating hazards, with hundreds of warning letters issued to landowners this year. Wed, 02 Sep, 2026 – 06:00Sean O’Riordan
Cork County Council is being urged to get tough on rogue landowners who have refused to cut roadside vegetation, causing significant safety issues for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists and contributing to accidents and costly damage to vehicles.
So far this year, the council has sent 274 warning letters to landowners. While many comply, some repeatedly fail to do so.
The council has not prosecuted or fined anyone who has failed to comply.
In cases where overgrown vegetation is deemed a serious road safety issue, the council can carry out the work itself.
However, the local authority has not disclosed how many such cases there have been or whether it has managed to recoup the cost from landowners.
Calls for tougher action
The extent of roadside growth has led several councillors to claim that it is creating serious hazards for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Cutting of hedges and roadside vegetation is not allowed between March 1 and August 31 to protect wildlife.
Read More
Cork and Kerry healthcare spend ‘wildly over the pay budget’, minister says
Cork train used ‘as drug corridor’ between cities, transport union claims
Aontú councillor Peter O’Donoghue said the council should write to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and request that, in the interest of public safety, the restrictions on hedge cutting be removed for roadside hedges and ditches.
He maintained that most birds do not nest on the side of the road and that landowners should be able to cut during the closed season without fear of prosecution.
“Others use it as an excuse not to do anything,” Mr O’Donoghue added.
The county council can act itself during the hedge-cutting prohibition season if it deems overgrowth to be a serious road safety issue, especially at junctions.
Independent Ireland councillor Danny Collins said these problems are aired each year.
“It’s like groundhog day. The briars in West Cork are shaking hands with each other across the roads. I know of car rentals charging people for scrapes caused by them. I had two lady friends over from the US and one got out camera to take pictures because she couldn’t believe the state of the ditches,” Mr Collins said.
“The closed season is too long cutting should be allowed from August 1,” Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington said.
“As a council we have to bring the stick approach about the same landowners on the same roads doing nothing every year,” said Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry, who is a farmer.
“A haulage company told me it’s costing thousands of euro to replace broken wing mirrors. The council does need to get stricter,” Independent Ireland councillor Daniel Sexton added.
“There’s been a lot of negligence from landowners. We need to take a stronger line with them on road safety issues,” Fianna Fail councillor Ann Marie Ahern said.
Read More
x
185th Anniversary Offer
Six months of digital access for €18.50
Already a subscriber? Sign in
No obligation. Ts&Cs apply.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
NEWSLETTERS
NOTIFICATIONS
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
Burglar warned woman taking photo of him will be ‘the sorriest thing she ever did’, court hears
Cork city car parking fees rise by up to 30% from Wednesday
Cork man who stole bag of coins from petrol station ‘handed himself in’ at Garda station
More in this section
Man questioned by gardaí after €1.2m drugs seizure at Cork Airport
Waterford locals fear losing rights-of-way after billionaire James Dyson’s purchase of Ballynatray estate
‘A true champion of the arts’: Tributes paid after death of Cork broadcaster Elmarie Mawe
#Cork – News#Cork County Council