Council seek clarity on liability for forestry road repairs

Cavan County Council is backing a national body in its decision not to sanction guidelines on sustainable timber transport until such time as there is clarity on whose responsibility it is to pay for and repair any damage caused to roads.

The County and City Management Association (CCMA) rebuffed the Good Practice Guide for Managing Sustainable Timber Transport framework in its current format, Cavan councillors were told at their monthly meeting last Monday (October 14).

Director of Services Paddy Connaughton told elected members that a motion tabled by Sinn Féin's Damien Brady with regards to timber extraction from forestries was particularly “timely” given current national policy to increase planting from 11 to 18 per cent.

He said the draft guidelines, as presented to the CCMA, raised many questions.

“Who is liable?” asked Mr Connaughton, asking whether that's the plantation owner, harvester, or farmer. “We've asked for it to be tightened up.”

He also denied that the council was “not doing anything”, a suggestion put by Fianna Fáil's John Paul Feeley in response to Cllr Brady's initial motion.

Cllr Brady had said that “narrow lanes and narrow roads” were being left decimated in the wake of large articulated machinery using them.

“It's not just done with a chainsaw any more,” he told the meeting, noting that he had received a number of calls in recent weeks from locals annoyed at the damage caused by some of these machines.

“Who is responsible for fixing?” asked Cllr Brady, probing also if the council was doing anything to “chase” what party was liable for the repairs. “It's very frustrating for the people who live locally,” he said.

Cllr Feeley stated that forestry companies had “no regard” for the impact their activity has on the communities adjacent to these sites.

He went on to claim that the problem is being allowed continue because it is happening on a bye-road in west Cavan and not on Farnham Street in Cavan Town.

Cllr Feeley highlighted too how a bridge had been “destroyed” in another incident.

“We as a council need to step up on this but we just haven't,” said Cllr Feeley, who demanded that conditions be imposed when licensing is granted. However, he was informed that such decisions are within the remit of the department, which ultimately gives the green-light, and not the local authority.

Independent Brendan Fay also contributed to the debate.