Residents fed up of train users parking outside their houses

Residents near Dromod Railway Station are "fed up" of people using the train parking outside their houses, Cllr Sean McGowan told members at a recent meeting of the Carrick Municipal District where he asked what steps can be taken to prevent the practice along the L-1600 "in front of Reynolds and Faughnan’s houses on the left-hand side as you approach Dromod Railway Station from the roundabout."

He said locals living in the area are "taking their lives into their hands" in some cases as the cars parked on the road mean that residents have reduced visibility when pulling out. 
He was advised that, currently, cars are allowed to park on the side of a public road if they are not obstructing the road user and if they are not obstructing private entrances adding that there are no bye-laws in place currently. 
The official response also stated that the Active Travel department have been asked to seek funding to create a footpath along this stretch of local road and this is currently being looked at as part of a bigger plan to link the railway and shop to the village. 
"Once the footpath is in place, it is illegal to park on a footpath within the public realm."

Cllr Des Guckian supported the motion and said the issue came down to "overcharging for parking" with Cllr  Finola Armstrong-McGuire also voicing her support.

Leitrim County Council District Engineer, Darragh O'Boyle said it's planned to install a traffic light system across the railway bridge as well as create the footpath with works set to commence next year. 
 
Active Travel project for Aughamore

At the recent Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District meeting, Cllr Sean McGowan asked about funding to provide a footpath and public lighting from the Village Estate in Aughamore, Annaduff as far as the top of the Hill saying it "is a short distance from the entrance to the estate to the top of the hill and there are a number of young children who have to walk along the very busy Gortinee road".

Cllr McGowan said he would hope to see an Active Travel grant approved for the area in the next year with Cllr Des Guckian seconding the motion. 

Mr O'Boyle said the district office's Active Travel team will look at this as a possible scheme going forward adding that Active Travel schemes are aimed at "getting short car journeys off the road". He said the project will potentially be included in the programme of works for next year.