Urgent action needed at road safety blackspot in Offaly

Measures must be taken urgently to tackle safety concerns at Durrow, on the main Tullamore to Kilbeggan road, local councillors have insisted.

Speaking at Thursday's monthly meeting of Tullamore Municipal District members hit out at the delay in the development of the new Tullamore to M6 motorway link but said it should not stop road safety measures being carried out in Durrow.

Cllr Neil Feighery said there were issues in particular at the High Road in Durrow which required urgent attention from the council.

Independent councillor Sean O'Brien said it was not just a matter of introducing new speed limits at Durrow as the High Road was “extremely dangerous”.

He added that “serious traffic calming measures were needed on that road.”

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Fianna Fail's councillor Tony McCormack said he had been campaigning on the new link road to the motorway and was extremely disappointed at the delays.

“I know that Barry Cowen at the Fianna Fail think-in was talking with Minister Chambers to put this back on the agenda,” he revealed.

“In the meantime we need to take steps to make the road safe for students, people going to church, farmers and motorists,” he added.

Re-entering the debate, Fine Gael's Cllr Feighery said the new link road was crucial for the economic development of the area and said his party “hadn't thrown in the towel” on the issue.

But he stressed people could not wait for that new link road for traffic calming measures to be carried out in Durrow.

Meanwhile in a follow-up statement released to the Tribune this week, Cllr Sean O'Brien said “a new road linking Tullamore and the motorway at Kilbeggan has been promised  for some time and major work was undertaken by consultants to come up with a preferred  route which was finally published earlier this year. Unfortunately the funding to progress  this project was stopped by the Government for the last two years and no further work on this  vital road can take place.”

The statement continued: “Meetings and promises by the major political parties are simply diversions and they have conceded that no work will take place on this project for several years”.

"Something has to be done to provide safety for local people in Durrow, especially the children attending the local school in Durrow and the many local residents who use the church, visit the graveyard and attend meetings in the community centre.    This a major access point for local people to access their homes.”

He continued: “A speed review is now underway and I am asking the council to reduce the speed limit on this road and also to put in traffic calming measures on the approaches to Durrow from both Tullamore and Kilbeggan.”

Meanwhile members at Thursday's meeting called on people to make recommendations to the review of speed limits in Offaly which is currently being carried out by the county council.

Cllr Feighery said it was a very good opportunity for local people to have say on where speed limits should be changed.
Agreeing Cllr Frank Moran urged people to engage with the review if they believed speed limits in their towns or villages required a reduction.

“I don't think anyone will be looking for a rise in limits,” he predicted.

The Clara based councillor said it was five years since the last review and reductions implemented following that had proved very effective.

“It's not just a case of putting up signs but other measures such as traffic islands,” he added.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Declan Harvey said the timing for the review could not be better in light of recent road accidents.

“The big screens and flashing lights in front of motorists do work,” he stressed.

Cllr McCormack said people know their local areas very well and said he looked forward to residents of Mucklagh, Rahan, Cappincur and the Charleville and Clara roads in Tullamore, among others, submitting their opinions.

He said he hoped residents in towns such as Clara and Ballycumber would also make submissions.

“It's OK for councillors to put forward suggestions but we need the backing of local people,” he stressed.

The draft by laws on speed limits is available to view at Aras an Chontae on the Charleville Road in Tullamore and submissions need to be made in writing by October 5 to Senior Engineer, Roads Dept., Offaly Co. Council, Charleville Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.  People can also view details on  www.offaly.ie