Motorists going up local road ‘like rockets’

Concerns have been raised over a “slip road” near the Granard road in Ballyjamesduff, which motorists are using to avoid speed vans.

The issue on the L7132 was brought up by Cllr Noel Connell (SF) at the recent MD meeting.

He said drivers are “going up that road like rockets”.

“Any time they see the speed van,” he added.

Cllr Connell was speaking on behalf of “people who are stepping out their doors onto the road”.

“Local people need to be able to go out their door and walk out the road,” he continued, adding that the local road could actually be “classed as a laneway”.

Cllr Trevor Smith (FG) said the issue has also been brought to his attention. He noted that speed van seems to be there more often on Tuesday’s when there was a mart sale on.

“I wonder what’s the point of a speed camera at that location?” asked Cllr Philip Brady (FF). He said motorists “don’t be going extra fast coming up to that bend” and therefore “couldn’t fathom” why a speed vans were located there.

“Has there been a fatality?” he asked.

Cllr Smith (FG) said, sadly, there was a fatality there previously. However, it had “nothing got to do with speed”.

Senior Executive Engineer, John McGahern, explained the Road Safety Authority (RSA) determines where the speed vans are located.

He added that the council has quarterly meetings with An Garda Síochána and can bring up such concerns.

The road in question was moved to a speed of 60km/h as of February 7. “It’s clearly signed.”

Cllr Connell asked if the speed van could be “moved down further”, or if there could be “traffic calming” installed.

Cllr T.P. O’Reilly (FG) said that “people should know themselves how to drive”.

Meanwhile, Cllr Smith said “the only way you can solve it is hit people in the pocket”.

“Set a policy,” Mr McGahern suggested.

“You are the six councillors sitting at the table,” he pointed out, adding that they “need” to put a budget to such policy.