Serious problem as horses roam estates
A MEETING to discuss the continuing problems of horses freely roaming local housing estates in Wicklow town will involve the councils, gardai and any interested parties.
Town Manager, Michael Nicholson, says the situation is ‘getting very serious’.
Mr. Nicholson said the horses come down from the hill in Ballyguile in search of water, wandering into gardens and damaging cars.
Wicklow Town Council contribute €2,000 a year toward animal welfare services involving the seizure of roaming horses, with Wicklow County Council, who run the service, spending ‘an absolute fortune, and most of it spent in Wicklow town,’ says Mr. Nicholson.
Cllr. Garrett O’Reilly, speaking at this week’s town council budget meeting, said there was an ‘ongoing problem in Ballyguile with horses running wild. Cars are getting damaged and people are seriously worried.’
Mr. Nicholson felt that ‘seizing horses and bringing them down to the pound’ wasn’t the answer.
‘ The horse is collected and the next day they are back out there again.’
He went on to say, ‘if they are council tenants of ours then they aren’t allowed have animals.
‘We will cover that and seriously look into it.
There were 26 horses out there at one stage. It is getting very serious.’
Mr. Nicholson added that a meeting involving the owners, gardai, town council, county council and other interested parties is being organised.