THE PARKS and Wildlife Service has rejected a claim that its bureaucratic approach to protecting nesting birds is putting human life at risk on rural roads.
David Wilkinson of IFA Countryside, a group associated with the Irish Farmers’ Association, said restrictive regulations on hedge-cutting need to be addressed to prevent accidents on rural roads.
“The effect of banning hedge-cutting from March 1st to August 31st is that it drastically reduces visibility as weeds and bushes grow out from both sides of already narrow roads,” he said.
“Rural road users are being put at unnecessary risk, and while there is an exemption for public health and safety, it is bureaucratic and consequently not used near enough,” he said. The restriction period was too long and ending it in mid-July rather than late August would better balance road safety concerns, he added.
But yesterday, a spokesman for the Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment said the Wildlife Acts banned the grubbing, burning or destroying of vegetation in the March /August period.
“However, this does not apply in relation to the cutting, grubbing or destroying of vegetation in the course of any works being duly carried out for reasons of public health or safety,” he said.
“There is no real bureaucracy involved, the work can be carried out as per outside the prohibited period for reasons of public health and safety. There is no licence required. We would also always encourage good communication between our conservation rangers and their local authority, so if a local authority would like confirmation that they are not breaking the law all they need do is contact the ranger,” he added.
Mr Wilkinson also called on county councils to put a greater emphasis on signposting temporary road works, especially on narrow rural roads.
“The summer months see a significant increase in tourist traffic on rural roads and local authorities have an obligation to ensure that these roadworks are well signposted,” he said.