The frightening cost of fire bills issued to landowners in West Sligo where extensive fires blazed in May and June of last year has led to one councillor calling on the council to reflect on whether farmers should be asked to pay.
Cllr Joe Queenan said that 20 property owners in the Culleens and Gleneaskey areas had been issued with bills, some of up to €4,000, after the Fire Service was in attendance for lengthy periods in order to fight the blaze. His motion called on the council to withdraw the bills.
The Enniscrone-based representative told the meeting that it was unfair that the farmers had to pay the bill for a fire for which they were not responsible. He said in many cases, a lot of damage had been done to land in the area and many farmers had been already negatively affected through damage to fencing and loss of grants.
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