*The busy R463 regional road from Tuamgraney to Killaloe.
COMMERCIAL AND PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY has been referenced in a bid to reduce the speed limit in Tuamgraney.
Both a reduction of the speed limit and the installation of traffic calming measures was sought by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) on the R463 Tuamgraney to Killaloe road from the Steiner School to Raheen Hospital.
Presently, the speed limit is 80km/h. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) initiate speed limit reviews every five years, Clare’s last speed limit review was completed in 2018 and came into force a year later. No date has been set for the speed limit review due to take place next year.
Acting senior executive engineer in the Killaloe MD, Derek Troy outlined that members of the public can object to and appeal an existing speed limit contained within the Council’s current special speed limit bye-laws. The initial appeal is made to Clare County Council’s appeals panel, “if the applicant is not satisfied with the decision of the local authority panel, the local authority will then forward the application to the regional panel. In the event that speed limits are to be amended, as a result of appeals, they will go before a Council meeting once a year for consideration”.
Troy said that as a result of the motion the Killaloe Municipal District would refer the matter with the appeals panel.
Stating that he was “not overly happy with the reply,” Cllr Cooney flagged the amount of commercial activity in the vicinity. “You’ve, two schools combined, a national and secondary Steiner school with up to 150 students involved, 50 staff involved are working there, it is a big number, they have to get in and get out each day between a small amount of buses but a lot of cars, people are using the footpath on the far side to get up to the school. A pedestrian or zebra crossing needs to be looked at”.
Cooney listed off Raheen Wood Centre, an industrial estate and Raheen hospital, “there is an awful lot of activity in a short area, there are twelve private houses also on this section, it is a regional road and unfortunately the speed limit is at 80km/h”. He suggested the addition of signage, traffic calming or flashing lights to help slow down traffic.
Agreement was voiced by Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), “We are talking about a school on a very busy regional road”. He added, “I do think for traffic safety, for children and parents we need to address the issue. In Ireland things happen and then we have to address the issue. The issue around smarter travel gives us an opportunity, we’ve already addressed the footpath from Killaloe and Tuamgraney to this area”.
Responding to the councillors, the senior engineer said the area could be submitted for a low cost safety improvement scheme. “The response says we can appeal speed limit if we’re concerned that there is speeding there,” he reminded the elected representatives.
Raheen Steiner School may be submitting planning permission for the redevelopment of the site and car parking area, he advised and that the remaining of commercial areas would need to be examined. “The school it’s important they are registered under safe routes programme, that would fall into future funding with the NTA”.
A low cost safety scheme “would make a major improvement around the whole area,” Cooney said becoming slightly happier with the latest version of the Council response.
