COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, February 20, 2012

MOTION NO.3

MOTION: Councillor M. Devine

“That the Manager provide clear working guidelines regarding this Councils response to overgrown trees/shrubs that are causing neighbourly discord”

REPORT:

The policy of the Council in relation to the pruning or removal of trees on roads and the pruning, thinning or removal of woodland or shrubberies on open spaces was included in the Arboriculture Works Programme 2012 which was presented to the Elected Members at the Tallaght Area Committee Meeting on the 5^th December 2011.  This followed from a number of meetings with the Elected Members to discuss and agree the Draft Programme and to allow for significant input from the Elected Members into the final document to be agreed at the Area Committee Meeting.

In summary, the Arboricultural Works Programme includes for:

·        Tree pruning

·        Tree removal

·        Stump removal

·        Hedge cutting

·        Shrubbery maintenance

In relation to trees, priority is given to trees in the following categories:

• Dead and damaged trees.
• Trees in very close proximity to public lighting columns (less than 1.8m).
• Trees associated with lifting footpaths. 
• Trees in conflict with overhead utility cables

Aside from these categories, works are only carried out to trees where they are considered to be consistent with good arboricultural practice. Examples of this would be crown lifting (removal of lower branches), crown thinning (reducing the weight of large trees), pruning to deal with weak branch junctions, pruning to improve the shape of the tree and the removal of low hanging branches and epicormic growth from street trees. 

In relation to “neighbourly discord”,  it can often happen that there is concern about the removal of trees with some sections of the local community being in disagreement as to the necessity for trees to be removed at all and other sections being adamant that particular trees do need to be removed.  The Council does try and arbitrate on this matter and will listen to both sides of the argument.  However, where there is good reason from both an Arboricultural point of view and particularly where public safety is a concern, the Council has an obligation to deal with the problem, the outcome of which may often not always be to the satisfaction of one section or group of people in the locality.