Notice to Householders Owners and Occupiers of Land Roads Act 1993 – Roadside Ditches and Hedges
Take notice that under the terms of the Roads Act 1993, landowners and occupiers of land are obliged to take all reasonable care to ensure that the trees, ditches, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not or could not become a danger to people using or working on a public road or public footpath.
Liability for damage or injury resulting from such hazards rests with the landowner/occupier.
Examples of hazards might be dead or dying trees, ditches or hedges interfering with traffic, obstructing footpaths, obscuring road signs, public lighting, or road users’ visibility.
In such instances you are required to fell, cut, log, trim or remove such trees, ditches and hedges.
Particular attention should be given to damaged or weakened trees or limbs and stumps of felled trees as a result of storms.
Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning etc. of any vegetation on uncultivated land between 1st March and 31st August. Hence work should be carried out while hedges are dormant between the start of September and the end of February.
Adequate traffic management type signposting should be provided and the Council and Gardai should be notified before works commence.
Notices may be served on landowners and occupiers who do not comply with their statutory obligations.
Landowners are encouraged to protect wildlife and promote biodiversity on all their hedgerows (including non-roadside hedges) and information on this is available on www.pollinators.ie.
If you require any further advice, please contact your local Area Engineer’s Office.