Cycle lanes off the agenda as plans for new ‘public road’ in Limerick village are approved

CALLS for the installation of a cycle path at the Manor Fields road in Adare have been rejected by the local authority.

Local businesses, members of the public and councillors had requested the provision of cycle lanes during a consultation process as part of the taking-in-charge process.

At the March meeting of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District, Trevor McKechnie, senior engineer assigned to the Ryder Cup, said the road is in a “poor condition” and requires “in excess of €600,000 worth of works” to bring it up to an acceptable standard.

He said cycle paths could be considered as a “stand-alone” issue at a later stage, under the council’s Active Travel initiative.

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The council is recommending that the 523 metre section of roadway accessing the Manor Brook estate and the Manor Fields recreational facility be declared a public road.

Mr McKechnie explained that as works begin in the village ahead of the Ryder Cup, the council is keen to start upgrades on the road, including widening footpaths, by the summer.

Councillor John O’Donoghue expressed concerns about the cost of the upgrades but Mr McKechnie assured him the money would not come from the local roads’ budget and that other roads are “not losing out because of it.”

Mr McKechnie further outlined to councillors that the local authority has also started the process of taking-in-charge Manor Brook housing estate.

Councillor Adam Teskey expressed concerns about the legal rights that could be lost by private owners if the road were to become a public road.

Vincent Murray, director of service for the district, replied that while it is not currently a public road, it is “a private road in a public place”, meaning members of the public can use it, but the council or gardaí do not have the authority to issue parking fines or set speed limits.

Members of the municipal district approved the proposed taking-in-charge which will now come before a meeting of the full council.