COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

MOTION NO. 4

MOTION: Councillor L. O’Toole

“That this Council undertakes to identify street lights which are currently covered or shaded by overgrown trees and arrange for these trees to be pruned. As many trees in Lucan are maturing they are blocking the street lights and creating a safety hazard due to very poor street lighting.”

REPORT:

The Council’s Public Realm Section plans to commence a countywide baseline survey of all street trees within Council ownership/management during 2015.  This survey will include assessment of street trees in proximity to public lighting.  Any recommendations for proposed tree maintenance works will be incorporated into the Tree Maintenance Programme.  The Council also receives requests on an ongoing basis from public representatives and residents for maintenance of trees in proximity to public lighting at specific locations and these are inspected and prioritised for works on a case by case basis.

In general, tree pruning will be undertaken where reasonably feasible to address obstruction of a street light where a tree is within 5m of the lighting column. Where a tree is within 2m of a lighting column, the removal of the tree is considered to be the most appropriate long-term option.  Where a tree is removed from a roadside verge, due to proximity to a public lighting column, a replacement tree will not be planted back into the same verge.