VISIBILITY of speed signs in Clooney have come under the microscope.

An extension of the speed limit in the village of Clooney onto the Ennis side of the Tulla Rd “to incorporate the existing houses in the area” was requested by Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) at the July meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District. He said presently the signs were located “on the bend and are not visible from a distance which leads to speeding coming into the village”.

50km/h is the existing speed limit on the R352 in Clooney village. “No date has been fixed for the next speed limit review,” acting senior executive engineer, Derek Troy confirmed. This duty is the responsibility of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Members of the public can object to and appeal an existing speed limit to Clare County Council’s appeals panel, Troy advised. If an appeal is to be amended, it must be considered at a full meeting of the local authority.

Residents in Clooney have been waiting two years and according to Cllr Hayes that “is not good enough”. He argued that the location of the speed limit sign needs to be moved and he recalled “it took us a year to agree” 100km/h on some sections of the Tulla Rd in the last speed limit review.

There are “clear sightlines” approaching Clooney, executive engineer Declan Flanagan responded. He outlined that the 50km/h limit starts before the village with 90m sightlines to the driver feedback signs. He said that that the vegetation could be cut back to improve the situation. “I’m not an engineer but the feedback I’m getting is the visibility not good enough. We can’t be waiting another two years,” a frustrated Hayes responded.

While seconding the proposal, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) suggested building up a database of areas of concern to present to TII prior to the speed limit review.

Bodyke is also experiencing the same problem, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) noted. He told the meeting that a “very active member” of An Garda Síochána was close to pulling him for going over the speed limit and flagged how the presence of Gardaí is very effective in bringing down the speed at which motorists are travelling at. “Gardaí are filling the book in my own village every day,” Kilmurry’s O’Callaghan replied, he said motorists are travelling up to 70km/h above the limit at times. “Driver behaviour is what it’s all down to,” Cllr Pat Burke (FG) agreed.

Homeowners must have some form of understanding, acting senior executive officer, Morgan Lahiffe believed. “From what I see down through the years, everyone wants the speed limit reduced outside their house and that is not viable”. He advised that members of the public can outline their particular case to the Council and said the proposal would be forwarded to the review panel which also includes the Gardaí.