*East Clare representatives including Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) called for a tougher approach on speeding. Photograph: Eamon Ward.
EAST CLARE representatives have lambasted the lack of a Garda presence while hitting out at the repeated instances of speeding on roads from Killaloe to Killanena.
At the most recent sitting of the Killaloe Municipal District, four motions tabled by elected representatives related to the matter of speeding on roads and appeals for traffic calming measures.
Quin was highlighted by Cllr Pat Burke (FG) who asked for a revision of the existing measures on the R469 entering the village adjacent to the playground. No plans for further traffic calming are envisaged, works were completed in 2022 from the church towards the playground while a new section of footpath was also created.
Killaloe was brought into focus by Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) who requested raised platforms be installed at the pedestrian crossings at New Line and Abbey Street. Enhancements are in the works for Abbey Street and St Flannan’s Cathedral “in the coming years” while a review of the streetscape of Carrigs Lane is ongoing while the area referenced by O’Brien is to be added to a low cost safety scheme.
Kilkishen’s case was raised by Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) who felt speed bumps were warranted to slow down traffic in the village. Within the last three years a new zebra crossing while a commitment to complete another speed survey was made by Killaloe MD staff.
Updates on proposed traffic calming measures from Scariff to Tuamgraney were sought by Cllr Pat Hayes (FF). A detailed 3D site survey has been completed, acting senior executive engineer Declan Flanagan outlined, the design of new measures are expected to take “a number of months”. He added, “the issue of speeding and results of surveys have been provided to An Garda Síochána to request monitoring of speeding on this section of road”.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Burke remarked, “The Clare Champion aren’t here but the night of the count Dan Danaher asked me what was the biggest issue I met on the doorstep and it was speeding, I could have had ten motions down about speeding”. He said in Quin, there are “three sets of speed limit signs, one is too far out of the way, cars went completely past ignoring the first feedback sign, they are completing ignoring it. This has been raised before, when the playground was installed the Council looked at traffic calming, I’m going back to 2001, the playground lacks signage and traffic calming of any kind”.
Driver feedback signs work initially but not on a long-term basis, Cllr O’Callaghan stated. “It is going to be raised in every town and village in our own MD over the new few months, I’m hearing it around Kilkishen hurling field and Tulla soccer club and that is traffic calming, something needs to be done”. He continued, “An Garda Síochána will be able to fill a book every time they come to our village and we’ve done everything we can, I don’t want to flood the place with ramps, reducing the speed limit is ludicrous, what is there is fine”.
Within the Killaloe MD there are currently “no plans to implement further traffic calming,” noted Cllr Hayes. “We don’t have the funding or the mechanism to deal with it, everyone en masse has talked about the same issue, we couldn’t say we have any town or village controlled with speed, it is something we have to address”.
Killaloe based O’Brien said he hasn’t observed a speed check on an East Clare road in two years. “We have a responsibility to do something about this, if it is only to highlight the inadequacy, I haven’t seen a speed check in two years, it is a disgrace and we have been let down”.
He continued, “My motion came from just before the holidays, was coming down by Abbey St and Boys NS, a kid went to step on platform and the car coming up the hill actually increased their speed so they would be gone through ped crossing so child of eleven would be across, when I stood out on the road to berate him then he decided to have a go at me”.
Gardaí need to have a stronger presence, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) stressed. “As far as I can see putting up signs, feedback display signs and all that, people are not paying any heed to them, it is down to driver behaviour”. He added, “It is time for An Garda Síochána to get out, if you cannot obey the speed limit then tough luck”.
Hayes responded, “We don’t have Gardaí to look after the basic things, our last man Ollie Baker is already gone from the area, we didn’t even get a full briefing or a comeback on that which is a story in itself, the new policing committee has an independent chair and won’t be responsible to us”.
Cllr Cooney insisted, “It is an issue for An Garda Síochána and we’re throwing it back on the County Council, we’re looking for junction and road improvements but what more can the Council do but put big ramps in every town and village. I’ve proposed ramps before and had calls from people saying do you realise the impact to the farming community with tractors and trailers. Penalty points and fines is the way to tackle it, we’re probably all breaking the law with speeding but something needs to be done”.
Seven speed ramps are in place for motorists arriving into Newmarket-on-Fergus from Sixmilebridge, “they are working,” observed Cllr O’Callaghan. “Are we saying we need to put speed ramps through every village in the Killaloe MD,” questioned Cllr Cooney to which O’Callaghan replied, “It is something we need to look at”.
Elected members cannot be discussing speeding for the duration of the Council term for the next five years, Cllr Hayes said. He suggested picking two villages per year until 2029 and “sort them out”.
Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe MD, Cllr Cooney questioned what Cllr Hayes could put in place. “The plan was done up through the school programme, it needs to be done and implemented,” Hayes responded. “I could name ten more villages to Quin, we don’t need this on the agenda going forward, we need to resolve it. We got elected to do it. If you go back through the agenda, we’ve asked a lot of the same questions on traffic calming,” he added.
Hayes continued, “I don’t think Gardaí have done much on speeding, maybe they will be out this weekend after hearing us”. He said, “The Council needs to up its game in delivery and getting things done, it is not a criticism against personnel but the system frustrates us all”.
Speeding is breaking the law, Cllr O’Brien emphasised. He suggested they write to the Department of Justice and ask to be included in a pilot project on speed cameras. Cllr Cooney proposed inviting the Chief Superintendent of the Clare Garda Division to a future meeting. “If they are coming we need to have an agreed agenda and look at broader picture and how our policing model is working because the present system is not,” Hayes responded.
