Call for lay-bys near Derrycarne Forest Park entrance

Cllr Des Guckian has called for at least five new lay-bys to be created, at suitable places, between houses, along the L3468-1, from The Top O’ The Hill, Aughamore, to Derrycarne Forest Park entrance.

He was speaking at the last Carrick-on-Shannon municipal district meeting ahead of the local elections in June.

“These new lay-bys are badly needed,” said Cllr Guckian before adding that the council has an obligation to help both locals and visitors, by making as many crossing points or lay-bys as are needed.

He said that the council put in some extra lay-bys on the Faulties Bridge end of the road, but there is a shortage on the Notley’s Top O’ the Hill end.

He added, “What is more, residents along this road are correctly objecting to cars and lorries pulling into and destroying their private drive-ways.”

Cllr Sean McGowan supported the motion saying it is a “busy road” and Derrycarne Forest Park is popular with locals and visitors alike, with Cllr Enda Stenson also voicing his support for extra lay-bys.

A report by the Roads office said the district office can create new lay-bys once “we have a grant applicable to the public road. In 2023, we repaired and re-established the existing lay byes on this public road to allow safer movement of traffic to the forest amenity.”