AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE is needed to protect Ukrainian refugees in Lisdoonvarna amid growing road safety concerns.
Concern was raised at Monday’s meeting of the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC) by Bill Slattery on traffic management in Lisdoonvarna particularly relating to the speed at which vehicles are travelling between Benn’s Cross and the Hydro Hotel. The road is also used by buses going to the Cliffs of Moher.
He appealed for an extra speed check to be introduced at the location. The representative of the Lahinch Development Association flagged that this road plus the route from Doolin Cross to Tom Cosgrave’s house on Upper Rd is now being used by Ukrainian refugees. “The refugees are not familiar with the roads, women are walking the road with their children on a tricycle and teenagers coming after them with donated bicycles, people are afraid that someone will get hurt or killed, can more speed checks be done on those roads to avoid a tragedy happening”.
Superintendent John Ryan said that hi-vis vest were provided to the refugees but flagged that the absence of footpaths and streetlights in the areas mentioned were an issue. He stated that the matter could be raised with the Chief Superintendent in the National Traffic Bureau to look at reducing the speed limit from 80km/h and suggested a multi-agency approach was the best option, “It is quite dark coming out of Lisdoonvarna, it is an issue, we will certainly broach it and get traffic corps out there”.
Slattery highlighted that the concerns also exist during the day when the refugees are wearing their hi-vis vest. He requested that Clare County Council engage with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to bring in “emergency legislation while there is an influx of refugees in Lisdoonvarna” and noted such an approach is necessary as the last speed review took three years to complete.
Officials in the West Clare Municipal District will this week be asked to complete a risk assessment, Director of Service, Leonard Cleary confirmed. “We will see if interim measures can be put in place. Pedestrian safety of our Ukrainian guests is very important to us, it is a large increasing population,” he added.
