An elected representative has warned that access to a Cratloe graveyard could be “gone forever” if accessibility issues are not taken seriously.
Appeals to have resurfacing work completed on the approach to Craughan Graveyard “would greatly exceed any budget available to the burial grounds unit,” senior executive engineer with the Shannon Municipal District Tom Mellett outlined.
He explained that the road is through private land and doesn’t have the benefit of a public right of way. “As this road serves the burial ground, several landholdings and houses, consideration could be given to an application under the Local Improvement Scheme”.
Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) had sought an update different projects in Cratloe including the resurfacing of the road leading to the graveyard, the pedestrian crossing at Cratloe National School plus the footpath and lights from the Portdrine flyover to the GAA cross.
Mellett detailed that the pedestrian crossing was due to be in place by the spring of 2022 and is currently at design stage. The proposed footpath is also at design stage with a costing to be carried out, “a provision has been made from the General Municipal Allocation fund for this project,” he acknowledged.
Part of the original agreement between Clare County Council and the landowners was for the local authority to maintain the road leading to Craughan Graveyard, Cllr Ryan stated. “It would be very disingenuous to ask the people who donated the road for access to a public graveyard to be asked to pay to surface it. I don’t know if there is official agreement in the archives but it would be great to pull it out. The quality of the road is very poor because the water runs down the road and eats up the surface. I won’t be around if it takes another 30 years,” he added.
A need for resurfacing was also emphasised by Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF). “The people of Cratloe and surrounding areas can drive over the cattle grid and into the graveyard with no problems, if there was to become a problem then we would have an issue because the alternative entrance has gone derelict, you would need hedge cutters and road surfacers”.
“It is very simple, if we lose it, it could be gone forever,” O’Gorman added. “We all have loved ones down there and we don’t want to be traipsing over briars and railway lines to access it”.
