'Businesses will close if this continues. Not might. Will'

A Letterkenny business has called for an immediate halt to roadworks across the town, warning that ongoing traffic disruption is having a serious impact on families, workers and local businesses.

Evolve Clothing says it contacted all 10 local councillors in the Letterkenny-Milford Municipial District, regardless of political party, ahead of a council meeting this evening, urging them to take action on what it describes as increasingly difficult traffic conditions.

The business says the disruption is affecting everyday life for people across the town.

It claims children are spending more than an hour on school buses travelling across Letterkenny, while parents are having to leave home earlier to allow for journeys that previously took around 15 minutes.

The business also says parents are arriving late to creches, children are missing sports and after-school activities, and families travelling to hospital appointments are being caught in lengthy traffic delays.

Workers are also being affected, according to Evolve Clothing, with some struggling to arrive at work on time.

The business says the disruption is also changing how people use the town, with some motorists choosing not to drive into Letterkenny because of the congestion.

“There is no way to get from work to school to the pitch in the time that is left,” the business said.

Evolve Clothing says the impact is being felt particularly strongly by local businesses, claiming that trade has fallen throughout the day and evening.

It says some customers are instead travelling to Derry, across the border or to smaller towns because they no longer consider travelling into Letterkenny worthwhile.

The business warned that the situation could have longer-term consequences for the town's economy.

“Businesses will close if this continues. Not might. Will,” it said.

It also raised concerns about Letterkenny's future as a regional growth centre, arguing that continued traffic problems could make the town less attractive to companies considering investment.

“No company is going to invest in a town where staff cannot get to work and deliveries cannot get through,” the business said.

Evolve Clothing has called on councillors to support three measures: One - Stop the current roadworks across Letterkenny, two - Reverse changes that have been made, including restoring roundabouts to their previous configuration; three - Do not introduce further works until a town-wide plan is in place that works for residents and businesses.

The business stressed that it is not opposed to cycling infrastructure, footpaths or safer pedestrian crossings.

“We are not against cycling, footpaths or safer crossings. We are for a town that works — for families and for business. At the moment we have neither,” it said.

Evolve Clothing is now encouraging members of the public who share its concerns to contact their local councillors.