Traffic survey in fastest-growing suburb in Limerick is ruled out

LIMERICK City and County Council will not carry out a new traffic study in an area which may see the construction of hundreds of new homes.

Groody Developments has secured planning permission for a 1,400-bed student housing development towering up to eight storeys over Groody Road and Dublin Road.

On top of this, A & G Thomond Builders Limited is seeking the green light to build 95 apartments, 22 houses and a student accommodation scheme with 309 bed spaces.

READ MORE: Developers set to seek permission for over 730 new homes in Limerick

Also based around Groody Road, council is scheduled to make a decision on the plans later this month.

Off the back of this, Fine Gael councillor Peter Doyle has called for a traffic study of the area, a move which was also supported by a number of other metropolitan members.

“These developments will result in more traffic congestion on the Groody Road and make it more challenging to enter and exit the Caisleán na hAbhann residential estate,” he said.
Cllr Doyle said many residents have told him they must leave before 8am during University of Limerick term-times to bring children to creche and school.

“I hope that a traffic study can confirm the congestion and come up with some solutions,” he said.

His call was backed by Fianna Fail councillor Joe Pond and Independent members Ursula Gavan and Elena Secas.

But transport director Patricia Liddy stated in response that the onus is on those applying for development to carry out what she described as a “mobility management plan”.

“This mobility plan requires developers to report on modal use by a development, including traffic figures using the development,” she wrote.

Ms Liddy added the objective of current strategies is to “promote modal shift”.

This means encouraging people to get out of their cars and use other transport.