*Cllrs John Crowe, Michael Begley (both pictured) and Pat Daly submitted a joint motion at the September council meeting
A COUNTYWIDE survey has been proposed to identify housing estates in Clare where traffic-calming measures are most urgently needed amid concerns over speeding.
The issue was raised at the September meeting of Clare County Council following a joint Notice of Motion from Cllrs John Crowe (FG), Michael Begley (IND) and Pat Daly (FF).
The councillors called for a survey to be carried out on the possibility of introducing traffic-calming measures in social housing estates and estates taken in charge by Clare County Council.
They said speeding was occurring in estates on a daily basis and was causing “serious health and safety issues”.
In a written response, Director of Services Carmel Kirby said the council acknowledged concerns about speeding and the need to provide safe environments for residents and vulnerable road users.
She said more than 420 housing estates are currently taken in charge by the council and that a countywide traffic-calming programme would require significant detailed engineering assessment and financial investment.
Ms Kirby said the proposed introduction of 30km/h speed limits, particularly in residential areas, was expected to contribute positively to concerns about speeding and road safety.
She also noted that speed-limit enforcement and action against dangerous driving was the responsibility of An Garda Síochána.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Crowe said traffic calming was a large part of motions being brought to every Municipal District meeting.
“There are serious concerns regarding speeding in our estates,” he said.
Cllr Crowe suggested that estates should have lower speed limits, with 15km/h in estates and 30km/h in villages, and said a survey should be carried out in each Municipal District to identify locations where traffic calming was most needed.
Cllr Begley said he had raised the issue of incorporating traffic calming into the design of new estates around one to two years ago.
“We have to start somewhere to get this right,” he said.
He argued that traffic-calming measures should be incorporated into the planning and design of new estates, while estates should also be designed without through roads where possible.
Cllr Begley said the focus should be on addressing the issue in future developments while also identifying existing estates where there was the greatest need.
“We have to start with the worst locations,” he said.
He described it as a “big call to correct county”.
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) supported the motion and commended his fellow councillors for raising the issue.
He said speeding “is a problem” even in the Ennis Municipal District.
Cllr O’Callaghan said the problem now was funding for traffic-calming measures, even where planning for estates had already been agreed.
“We’re talking about people’s lives at risk,” he said.
The council said it remained committed to evaluating appropriate traffic-calming measures where justified and supporting initiatives aimed at improving safety and quality of life for residents.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
