A Donegal bus company has threatened to cut a West Donegal school route short until roadside hedges are trimmed.
The issue escalated this morning after a bus wing mirror was damaged on a school run.
The location and the bus company have not been disclosed, but local Cllr Michael McClafferty has said that parents in his area were contacted by a driver who said they may not collect some children in the coming days if nothing is done.
The incident didn’t happen out of the blue, says Cllr McClafferty.
“I am not out to point fingers because there are dozens of companies that this affects and action needs to be taken in a lot of rural areas,” Cllr McClafferty told Donegal Daily.
“The bottom line is something needs to be done here. I stand with the bus drivers. There is no point in companies going out buying expensive vehicles for the comfort of passengers and for schoolchildren.
“Like anyone who buys a car, they are not going to go down a road where they could get it scratched.
“We also have the danger of people driving in the centre of the road to avoid hedges.”
Cllr McClafferty has clarified that it is not the fault of Donegal County Council.
“It’s the landowners’ responsibility but I don’t see all of them taking that responsibility.
“I know the council are at times are advising them of their responsibilities, but it’s not being enforced. As a result you have some people cutting hedges and some offenders, the worst of them on back roads, letting things go.”
Cllr McClafferty has suggested that a collective effort be taken in communities to approach the problems.
“We don’t want to end up in a situation where schoolchildren can’t get to school and where neighbours fall out.
“It would be sensible for one or two people in a townland to go around and collect €10-€20 off landowners and employ a hedgecutter for an area.
“That cuts down unnecessary arguments and bad feelings among neighbours.
“In reality, everyone should take responsibility for the better good of everybody. We don’t want to see any accidents because of this.”
