Date revealed for protest over pedestrian deaths in Charleville

A PEACEFUL protest over the number of pedestrian deaths in Charleville will take place on Friday, June 16.

Charleville Community Forum, organisers, say in a statement sent to local media it will be held in the town plaza, main street from 5.30pm to 6pm. Eight people have died in the last 10 years with two fatalities within a fortnight of each other last month.

"This will be a family friendly protest, no speaking, just a presence for now. This course of action is the result of a public meeting in the Charleville Park Hotel on Wednesday, May 31, to discuss pedestrian safety," reads the statement.

Read a full report from the meeting on the link below

‘People are dying’: Protest called over road fatalities in Charleville

The statement from the Charleville Community Forum says that a large number of people attended the meeting, where "a tangible sense of frustration was evident over the abandonment of necessary infrastructure in Charleville by Governments, Cork County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland".

"The community of Charleville and surrounding areas remain traumatised, fearful and outraged, after two
pedestrians recently lost their lives on the main street of Charleville - Pat Galvin, Newtownshandrum on April 29 and
Margaret Lyons, Charleville, on May 15.

"Sadly bringing the total of fatalities to 8 people within a 10 year period. All the incidents involved heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Families, loved ones, and friends of the victims, have to endure unbearable heartbreak. The impact and trauma on the lives of the drivers of the HGVs involved, the emergency services who attended and the eye witnesses," reads the statement.

Following the seventh fatality, Charleville Community Forum held a meeting on May 3 and launched a campaign “Enough is Enough”.

"We all know something must be done urgently to prevent any more loss of life on the main street of Charleville. Unfortunately the clock is already ticking for another family to experience such devastation as Charleville town has returned to normality, with no changes towards pedestrian safety implemented by Cork County Council.

"The high volume of HGVs now passing through our town is beyond ridiculous. Safety issues were highlighted by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in 2019 and still no action. Cork Port grew by 30% in 2022, if it continues to expand, the safety risk to our pedestrians is increasing daily.

"We highlight our dismay and frustration that no immediate safety measures have been put in place. All responsible Government parties must act immediately, and take the lives of the Charleville community and surrounding areas into consideration. That is the reason, there will be a Peaceful Protest on Friday, June 16.

"Stop the abandonment of Charleville town and save the lives of our pedestrians," concludes the statement.