Speed survey to be carried out on this County Kildare road
Councillors have raised safety concerns for the Lord's Road, Celbridge
A speed survey is to be carried out on the Lord's Road Celbridge, Co Kildare following councillors' concerns of speeding in the area.
Tabling his motion at the June meeting of Celbridge Leixlip Municipal District, Cllr Declan Ryan (FG) called for “appropriate traffic calming and safety measures to protect pedestrians, cyclists and all road users.”
Cllr Ryan explained that the Lord's Road was “built back in the horse and cart days”, and is a very narrow road with no centre dividing line.
Because of the increase in traffic in the area, he said, the road is now being used by people accessing the railway station, to avoid traffic on other routes.
Cllr Ryan said that residents are “afraid to leave their houses” due to the traffic being so heavy on the Lord's Road, particularly in the early morning time and evening time.
He acknowledged the fact that the council is to carry out a speed check in the area, but said other measures were also required.
Cllr Ryan said that in an era when people were being encouraged to avail of active travel, local residents were being forced to use their cars, because of the volume of traffic on the road.
While the current speed limit on Lord's Road is 60km/h, Cllr Ryan said, this should be also be reduced.
Supporting the motion, Cllr Nuala Killeen (SD) stated that residents in the area of Lord's Road are having to be “hypervigilant” about their safety “in the last two to three years” due to conditions on the road.
Also supporting the motion, Cllr Rupert Heather (LAB) told the meeting that there is also a new housing estate in the area, and the road was constructed in the days of “horse and cart.”
While he welcomed the speed survey, he said that “action” was needed on the issue.
By his own admission “throwing a spanner in the works”, Cllr Bernard Caldwell (FF) said he uses the Lord's Road “on a regular basis”, and while it is a busy road, he didn't see that it posed any danger.
“Maybe I'm an extremely different driver to anybody else, but I don't see any danger in it”, he said.
Cllr Caldwell suggested that “Maybe it's not the roads that's the problem, it's the drivers.”
Drivers, he said, were driving too fast and needed to “slow down” and have respect for their fellow road users.
“Maybe people need to cop on to themselves”, he suggested.
A report issued by the council stated: “The Municipal District Office is not aware of any speeding issue on the Lord’s Road. A speed survey will be carried out to determine if there is an issue.”