Residents are very concerned about pedestrian safety in the village - Barry

Cllr Brendan Barry called on Ballinamore Municipal District to carry out pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures in Keshcarrigan beside Ceis Lawns, on the Drumshanbo road and the astro pitch on the Mohill Road saying that "residents are very concerned about pedestrian safety in the village."

He asked if the feedback sign on the Fenagh Road could be moved to either the Carrick or Mohill Road. "It's serving no purpose on the Fenagh Road now with the ramp there."

He noted that he understood the Education and Training Board (ETB) are prepared to "give a small piece from their astro turf to put in a path on that side of the road so a pedestrian crossing could be put there."

He asked about the possibility of securing Active Travel funding "to put in a path through An Crannog and a pedestrian crossing at the astro pitch."

He added that "the community could come together and CLÁR funding could be sought for the Drumshanbo/Carrick side."

Cllr Enda McGloin supported the motion. 

The official response stated that the District Office have met with the local residents on this issue and have advised the local community to apply for CLÁR funding for a crossing at the astro turf pitch. 
"Space is not available to create a new footpath from the village side and land owner agreement is not forthcoming from the Mohill side. All speed limit signs are in proper order. The District Office has invested a lot of money in the village of Keshcarrigan over the last two years and have made significant safety changes to the infrastructure."

District engineer Darragh O'Boyle said the driver feedback sign mentioned by Cllr Barry is going to the approach into Fenagh from Keshcarrigan.

He continued that Active Travel looked at the possibility of a footpath from the speed limit into town from the Carrick Road and it was "turned down because there is a link there if you go through the estate; so they're not going to entertain that or the one on the Mohill Road either."

He said the construction of a footpath all "the way out to the playground" was considered, and the Fr Mychal Judge memorial, "but there were issues with landowners so that was put on the long finger."

Mr O'Boyle continued that "the very active community out there needs to apply for CLÁR funding and seek it; that we have a small bit of a footpath on the astroturf. We have an existing footpath on the other side and we could put a pedestrian crossing there."