Residents concerned over speeding on busy Cootehill road

Speeding on the Mountain Lodge road into Cootehill is causing issues for local residents and concerns for the safety of children and pedestrians.

Councillors discussed the road at their recent meeting of Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District, with calls for measures to be put in place.

Members were unanimous in their calls for something to be done to slow traffic on the approach road.

“Traffic is speeding coming into town. Can we put signage there to warn cars or is there anything that can be done to slow traffic,” asked Cllr Paddy McDonald (SF), chairing his last meeting of the MD.

Cllr Carmel Brady (FG) seconded the proposal, saying the speed limit signs approaching town are too close to town and drivers are “not paying attention”.

She said residents along the route have highlighted their concerns about the speed of traffic saying it is “coming far too fast from both sides”.

“Residents say we need to do something. They can’t let kids out on their bikes because of the speed of traffic.”

Senior Engineer Alan Lyons said the speed limit on the road drops from 80km/h to 50km/h and described the signs as being “way out”. He said accident data showed only one crash where an injury was recorded on that stretch of road back in 1999.

“There’s no strong case in the accident data,” he said, but he said MD staff would look at the situation.

However, he said if motorists are not obeying speed limits in place on the road it’s a matter for the gardaí rather than the local authority.

Cllr Aiden Fitzpatrick asked if an existing pedestrian crossing at the Drumnaveil estate would be converted into a ramp to slow traffic.

“There are 21 children in the estate who cross to go to the school. You have to be very alert. A ramp would slow cars.”