PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY needs to be increased within the village of Barefield, a senior engineer in the Ennis Municipal District has acknowledged.
A request to extend the existing footpath after Barefield NS from Curraderra to Cragard Road was made by Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) at a sitting of the Ennis MD. He said this was “due to the high volume of vehicles that travel along this route. Children, walkers, joggers and cyclists currently use this road at their peril due to inadequate pedestrian facilities”.
Acting senior executive engineer in the Ennis MD, Paddy Tiernan confirmed that “a desktop study” of the proposal had been completed. “In order to provide pedestrian connectivity between these townlands and Barefield National School a footpath extension of approximately 2.4km would be required. Whilst the proposal is constructable it poses challenges from both an engineering and financial perspective. Based on the desktop study and sparce population distribution in this area it is our opinion that such a project is not viable at this time,” he explained.
Tiernan advised, “In carrying out the desktop study we have also investigated alternative methods of providing safe pedestrian and cyclist connectively within this area. A viable solution we believe is on the existing service road (L-81126 & L-81125) which was constructed as part of the M18 motorway. This route is almost free from vehicular traffic and provides a safe and attractive walking and cycling route from a location just north of Barefield National School to the junction on the Ballyline side of the overpass”.
An application will be made to the Department of Transport for a 70m section of footpath in Barefield, he said. “Ennis MD do recognise the need for increased pedestrian connectivity within the village of Barefield. We can confirm that we intend to apply to the Department of Transport via the Safety Improvement Scheme for a 70m section of footpath on the Ruan Road (L-4158) opposite Considine’s Bar. This section of footpath will provide the missing link in order to connect several properties on the Ruan road to the village of Barefield”.
Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis MD, Cllr O’Callaghan said the “constant stream of vehicles” in Barefield is “to the detriment of the families living there”. He maintained, “The growth rate and projected population increase warrants improvement of pedestrian infrastructure improvements in the area, now is a good time to establish that for families to enjoy the benefits and it would benefit the Barefield environment. Pedestrians are the main victims of traffic accidents in rural villages”.
Local residents in Barefield must continue to raise “the necessity” of extra footpaths with elected representatives, Cllr O’Callaghan stressed. He said he has been presented with a petition containing 120 signatures.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) noted, “it is a link road from Barefield to Ennis, it is a hugely busy and very populated area, there’s two busy pubs there with Considine’s and Hassett’s plus the restaurant in Hassett’s and there’s a lot of people walking there”.
