*Photograph: Joe Buckley
A NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS representative has warned of “a major accident” along the village’s busiest route.
An extension of the double yellow lines at Lough Gash Cross in Newmarket-on-Fergus was sought by Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) “due to cars parking on the village side which is obscuring visibility”. The proposal was seconded by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND).
Senior executive engineer in the Shannon Municipal District, Tom Mellett stated that they have “prepared a design incorporating adjustments at this junction which will improve sightlines. The measures will address the parking situation on the town side”.
Located across from Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire and the grounds of Newmarket Celtic, the junction is adjacent to Eurospar, the only grocery shop in the parish.
Manoeuvring the junction is “an ongoing problem continuously,” Cllr McMahon flagged. “I fear a major accident and I don’t say that lightly. Anyone parked at the corner cuts out the line of view, coming up from the village or the Ennis side it is a big wide road. If you’re trying to go right from the junction, it is very hard to see because of the cars parked along the road and people do continuously”.
He continued, “we’re talking about a very busy school, the only shop in the village, a Garda barracks, a very busy soccer club with 14 teams matches ongoing most evenings and afternoons, the whole area tends to be heavily trafficked, the problem is you have to move out onto the road if turning right down to the village. Lorries should not be parking at the cross. I genuinely do believe, it is pure luck that an accident hasn’t happened”.
