Factory workers forced to walk along ‘dangerous’ road in Leitrim
Manorhamilton councillors unanimously backed a call to explore future footpath provision near Elastometall, where some workers are forced to walk along a busy stretch of the N16.
The lack of a footpath near a factory in North Leitrim has raised concerns, with pedestrians having to walk out onto the road, while there are currently no plans to install a footpath at the location.
The issue was raised during a recent meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District, where Cllr Felim Gurn asked for the footpath to be extended past Elastometall in Manorhamilton, describing it as an “ongoing issue.”
Cllr Gurn’s motion stated, “With the announcement of the start date for the new fire station on the N16 beside the existing bottle banks, the need for extending the footpath out past Elastometall has been an ongoing issue for the last few years.
“The footpath is needed for people who work out in the factory unit and who have to walk out on the N16 with HGV and ongoing traffic on the road. I ask the Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to look at this under safe active travel funding to fund extending the footpath past Elastometall.”
He told the meeting that some people who work at the factory do not drive and have to walk out onto a “dangerous” road. He also noted that the issue continues to be raised on doorsteps during local election campaigns.
A response from the Roads Department noted that, because the factory is located outside the 60km/h speed limit reduction zone, Active Travel has no plans to install a footpath at this location, as the works would not fall within its remit.
Cllr Gurn asked that funding be sought for a study to be carried out at the location to determine what could be done in the future regarding a footpath.
The motion was unanimously supported by councillors.