Google Maps blamed for encouraging traffic through village
But council says drivers should assess how suitable a route is
Google maps technology has been criticised for taking traffic from the motorway through Johnstown village.
Cllr Fintan Brett
He told a Naas Municipal District meeting that walls that are 300 years old are being damaged by the vehicles.
He said a sign put up by residents seeking to deter the drivers was taken down by Kildare County Council.
According to KCC, Google maps is operated by a private company and is one of a number of navigation services in operation.
KCC official Mark McLoughlin said the reporting mechanism used is primarily to address errors and does not have a feature to address whether roads are suitable for certain vehicle types. Nor can it distinguish the type of vehicle being driven.
He said it is up to road users to assess the suitability of a road as well as any weight restrictions that may be in place of planning conditions regarding haulage routers.