Mayo councillor questions attitude of people involved in Active Travel Scheme
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said the attitude of the people in charge of Breaffy Active Travel Scheme towards residents is not good enough
A Mayo councillor has questioned the attitude of the people in charge of the Breaffy Active Travel Scheme towards some residents who raised concerns.
The Breaffy Active Travel Scheme which is currently under construction involves the construction of segregated footpaths and one-way cycle lanes on both sides of the N60 and R308 linking Breaffy with Castlebar.
However, some residents raised concerns over aspects of the work with local councillors including tar and grease left on completed stages of the scheme along with trip hazards.
Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne told the monthly meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District that concerns raised by a local landowner regarding a drain were not properly addressed by engineers or the contractors.
“They are not the most co-operative of guys and I'm happy enough to say that,” Cllr Kilcoyne told the meeting.
“I met a man in Breaffy and there are ten pipes from under the road running into a drain which is full with vegetation and growth. He spoke to people in the council office who said to him, 'you are a day too late, we could have filled that if you came a few days earlier'.
“Now that is not good enough.There is water flowing and when it gets blocked up it will flood the man's field and that is not good enough. I want a site meeting so people can have a look at it,” he said.
The Independent councillor also told the meeting that the contractors had a responsibility to ensure the site is clean and they should be penalised if they do not.
Fine Gael councillor Cyril Burke supported the call for local residents to be supported and also questioned why there was no provision for a shelter at the new bus stop at Breaffy.
Director of Services, David Mellett told the councillors that the Breaffy Active Travel Scheme is a live construction project and some of the issues raised will be picked up on the snag list and he will follow up on other issues raised.
Meanwhile, Mr Mellett confirmed that the Active Travel Scheme from Pollavaddy to Balla along the N64 remains a priority despite the TII not allocating funding for it earlier this year.
The N60 Pollavaddy to Balla Active Travel Facility proposes a standalone cycleway and walkway along or near the N60, linking the Heathlawn Active Travel facility at Pollavaddy Junction with Balla Town.
The matter was raised by local councillor Donna Sheridan who complained that there was a perception that the council 'dropped the ball' when it was the Minister for Transport and the TII who did not provide funding to advance it. She asked if a fresh application for funding will be made for next year's allocation.
Mr Mellet said the council had expected it to be included in this year's programme but were informed by the TII that the funding was not available and the allocation went into the Breaffy scheme. He said the Breaffy scheme will soon be completed and will meet with the TII later in the year to advance the Balla project.