*Tulla.
CONNECTIVITY and accessibility in Tulla has come under focus.
In the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029, there is an indication that “within the life of the plan it is an objective to prepare a Local Transport Plan for Tulla”. This aspiration was referenced by acting senior executive engineer in the Killaloe Municipal District, Declan Flanagan when responding to a motion from Cllr Pat Hayes (FF).
Hayes had sought a plan to connect Tulla to Dr Daly Park and O’Callaghan’s Funeral Undertakers both of which are located on the R352 which is one of the main regional roads in East Clare.
As part of this effort to “enhance safety and convenience for pedestrians and cyclists,” Hayes asked that a footpath be constructed connecting the heart of Tulla to Dr Daly Park and the funeral home, to install public lighting along the footpath to ensure safe passage, signage, crossing and adjustments to the existing road layout to accommodate the footpath and a review of the speed limit on the section of road.
Flanagan outlined that Clare County Council has undertaken several schemes to promote Active Travel in Tulla including links with the village to both the athletics track and the grounds of Tulla Utd. “A traffic calming scheme has also been delivered in 2023 adjacent to St. Mochulla’s National School. These projects, delivered successfully by Killaloe MD, are all within the 50km/hr speed limit zones and within the settlement boundary of the Tulla as set out in the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029”.
He acknowledged the County Development Plan aspires to create a local transport plan for Tulla and that sentiments from Cllr Hayes could be explored with the Council’s planning department.
Caution was advised by Flanagan on pedestrian safety. “In terms of the provision of a new public footpath crossing the R352 Strategic Regional Road to the GAA Grounds, Killaloe MD would have concerns particularly in relation to pedestrians, including children, crossing the heavily trafficked R352. Dr Daly Park is located in a rural area and within an 80km/hr speed limit”. He said a reduction in the speed limit was “unlikely” to be approved.
Speaking at the March meeting of the Killaloe Muncipal District, Cllr Hayes stressed that it was “a major issue”. He continued, “As recently as St Patrick’s Day I was approached by a parent whose child had an incident on the main road. Like Crusheen, Tulla is expanding, it is situated on the main busy road but I think we have to start the process to find the formula to revise this”.
Volume on the road “is very high,” Hayes flagged. “We need to play our role as a local authority, I propose that we review the speed limits on this point where we submit a proposal to the Council to start a process of reducing the speed limit in these areas, while we all want to go to Ennis quickly and get back fast but there is an amount of people on the road going to the funeral home and the grounds of Tulla GAA”.
“I’ve no problem supporting the motion but want to compliment Tulla GAA on the work they are doing, they have a traffic management plan in place. There was between 1500 to 2000 people at the All-Ireland schools final there last week, there was ten to twelve buses all parked in the grounds,” commented Cllr Joe Cooney (FG).
Previous requests to be upgrade the hard shoulders on both sides of the R352 have been raised by Cllr Cooney. “A footpath could prevent car parking but we have to think of the safety of the people coming up the road,” he added. “We have to think of parking restrictions and we don’t want to restrict them at the moment,” the Mayor of Clare said.
A more “proactive” approach is required, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) felt. “Dr Daly Park is located in a rural area as Declan says and I suppose it is but when you consider the population of the town of Tulla and the use of the facility, I was there doing umpire at a game in November under lights. The evenings for training and matches is where the volume is, a solution has to be found,” Cllr Pat Burke (FG) stated.
When the All-Ireland schools final was held in Tulla, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) was among those travelling in the vicinity. “There was some amount of traffic last Friday, it was wet and dangerous, it was well managed but you would be fearful,” he highlighted.
Nothing should happen without consulting both the GAA club and the funeral home owner, Cllr Hayes stressed. He noted that Clare GAA are also looking for a review of the speed limit further up the road by Caherlohan “which is another issue”.
Cllr Cooney told the meeting, “I have no problem seconding if that is what we need today. I would also ask for work on the hard shoulders”. Any reduction to the speed limit would be “fantastic”, he surmised.
