Concern for lack of speed ramps in council's new road safety policy

Speed ramps could become rarer in Laois as the council shifts to other ways of slowing traffic on roads, but one councillor wants them to stay.

Laois County Council members this week approved the county's first ever Traffic Calming Policy, at their April meeting.

The new policy sets out the types of traffic calming that may be used in different circumstances, including ramps, signs and narrowing and bending of roads in new housing estates. 

It will also be used by the council to support funding applications to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). 

However Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley says she'll be looking for it to be changed, if the document stops her getting ramps in Portlaoise Municipal District.

Three quarters of the motions tabled by Laois councillors every year, are about traffic calming, said Director of Services Simon Walton.

"Over 400 motions are on traffic calming per annum. The policy document will serve in funding applications to the Department of Transport and the TII," he said.

Cllr John King proposed approval of the policy, seconded by Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald.

"We all know how often this comes up at our meetings," Cllr King said.

"Road safety is a huge issue in all our areas. I'm delighted now we have this policy," Cllr Fitzgerald said.

However Cllr Dwane Stanley asked for the policy to be deferred for a month to read the document and make submissions. 

"We were told for years there wasn't enough funding for ramps. It wasn't until there was a tragic death of a young child in an estate, following on from that, there were several incidents where children lost their lives, broke their legs, where children were hit by cars. Our discretionary funding was brought on to address that. I use mine every year to put ramps in.

"My concern is for new estates. We're told other things will be looked at. If that's chicanes, I live in an estate where the road goes wriggly wriggledy, and very often when you come around a corner there's a car on the wrong side of the road. They're trying to gauge that corner. 

"I have a list of housing estates in this town that are crying out for traffic calming. I know it doesn't say we're not going to be able to put down ramps, but it's definitely restricting us. I have concerns on that," she said. 

She added that "the builders should be picking up the bill in new estates."

Cllr Ollie Clooney said that a new ramp gone at the church in Durrow should be a foot higher.

"There was speeding there, I highlighted it for the last few years, the council and TII put in this ramp. It's after making an absolutely huge difference. I'd have it a foot higher, but it's working, everyone is happy, not one complaint.

"I think ramps have to be here to stay. If we can save one life, it's important. The only people who fear ramps are the ones speeding. They have to learn a lesson, either the hard way or the easy way, that speeding is not acceptible in built up areas," he said.

Cllr Simon Walton said "in my view the document does not fully confine us in terms of ramps for traffic calming. There are other traffic calming measures available."

"We are acutely aware of road safety issues around the county and are doing everything we can, we are impacted by these fatalities, serious injuries and minor injuries as much as anyone else. This policy is open to the council to change it at any time," he said. 

Roads engineer Brenda Cuddy said that the new policy pulls two policies already used, into one.

"We want to deliver a whole package, like extra lights and line markings, not just individual items.

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"In new estates we work really closely with our planners, we prefer tabletops for ambulances or fire brigades to go over. Narrowing the road gives a sense of calmness, like on the Abbeyleix road.

"I 100% agree that new estates should have traffic calming from day one. That's why we have started working really closely with the planning office, in relation to shorter straight roads, and that pedestrians and footpaths take priority," the engineer said.