Mayor says he will fight for Comeragh mountain fire measures
Fires on the Comeragh mountains in July. Pic: Noel Browne
The Mayor of Waterford City and County has made calls to alter laws relating to controlled burning on our mountains and allow farmers and landowners to engage in the controlled burning and heather and gorse.
Mayor Liam Brazil's comments come in the aftermath of serious fires over the summer on the Comeragh mountains, where land was destroyed and homes on the base of the mountain evacuated.
Currently, controlled burning on mountain and upland areas in Ireland is strictly regulated by the Wildlife Act.
Farmers who own land on mountains are only allowed to burn from September 1 to February 28.
Cllr Brazil said these laws need to be altered.
“There is a solution to this, and we can control our beautiful Comeragh mountains and keep our wildlife and livestock on the mountains. I’m going to fight this” he said.
Cllr Brazil has asked that the local authority raise the issue with the relevant authority, The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Dawn Wallace, Senior Executive Officer with the Council's Environment Department, confirmed last week that the Council has issued a letter to the NPWS to address the issue.
(Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme)
