Claims speeding motorists going ‘like hammers of hell’ on Longford road

Fine Gael Cllr John Browne told a meeting of Longford's Municipal District last week of a series of complaints he had received from elderly residents living along the county town's Ardagh Road.

Cllr Browne said the level of unease was now at a stage that required local authority intervention.

The retired publican and practicing accountant said it had come to his attention certain vehicles had been observed travelling “like the hammers of hell” along the road in recent weeks.

“There are a number of older people that are quite concerned about the situation and the road is also quite narrow,” he said.

The long serving local representative urged the council's roads department to relocate one of two flashing speed monitor devices to the road in an attempt to investigate those claims further.

Area engineer Eamon Bennett said the council were open to such a plea, but said elected members needed to agree on which one of two speed monitor machines to move.

Cllr Browne suggested the council explore the prospect of buying a third one to add to those currently located beside St Emer's National School and Melview National School.

Mr Bennett, however, poured cold water on that proposal, saying Longford Municipal District's current complement of flashing speed machines were not permanent structures, but rather based on “low cost safety issues”.

Cllr Browne said it was “regrettable” such a move could not be facilitated, adding: “The people on the Ardagh Road have been complaining for a long number of years (over speed concerns).”

Director of Services John Brannigan said the council were willing to write to local garda management with a view to initiating a more probative speed check.

Cllr Browne, in turning his focus to the current condition of Longford town's Battery Road, said concerns had likewise emerged over its “not great condition”.

Cllr Browne highlighted how a number of potholes had suddenly sprung up on the road, most noticeably at a set of pedestrian lights outside Longford garda station.

The meeting heard that those concerns would be addressed in due course.