Council to consider imposing maximum height for trees

Westmeath County Council is to examine whether it should impose a maximum height on trees in housing estates.

The move comes at the suggestion of Mullingar Cllr Aoife Davitt, who said she had raised the issue before and understood it was to be considered by one of the council's strategic policy committees (SPC)

The official response to her request from the council stated that the environment section was unaware of any policy on height restrictions but that a tree management policy is in preparation by the environment and climate section.

“When planting, it is important that the right tree should be selected for the potential of any site and then allowed to grow to their full natural size/height,” the reply concluded.

Cllr Davitt said she was concerned that there had been several instances of trees being blown over – which was a danger in housing estates – and so she was of the view that there should be a limit on the height of trees.

Director of services Deirdre Reilly said the matter could be put on the work programme for the SPC for discussion.