UNEVEN SURFACES on West Street in Carrigaholt are “causing significant issues” for local residents, an elected representative has claimed but improvements would cost a six figure sum according to Council engineers.
Cognisance towards older people in particular is needed when it comes to considering improvements, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) stated.
He asked, “that remedial works be undertaken on the road and footpaths at West Street in Carrigaholt to rectify the uneven surfaces on both that are causing significant issues for local community members, especially older persons”.
Active Travel works had been funded to renovate the footpath in West Street, senior executive engineer in the West Clare Municipal District, Alan Kennelly advised.
Kennelly cautioned that the width of the street would result in improvements reaching a six-figure sum. “The road surface at West Street is beginning to show signs of deterioration. It was previously surfaced with a thin overlay and so the next resurfacing works should probably be planning of the existing surface followed by a full depth surface overlay. This is a very expensive process and given the width of the West Street overall cost is likely to be a six-figure sum”.
Following on from previous motions, the engineer said the West Clare MD are “actively seeking funding for a number of overlay projects but have not secured sufficient funding to date. I am unable to give a timeline for the resurfacing of West Street”.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Murphy said he had a list of people who stated the road remained uneven. “It’s actually not suitable for pedestrians. They’re actually trying to walk on the other side of road which is full of mud. It’s a completely uneven surface, it’s not good enough at all. Surely to god there’s something we can be doing here in short term”.
Support for the motion was voiced by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG). “Something needs to be done here as soon as possible, the road just isn’t suitable enough as of now and needs upgrading”.
