*Photograph: John Mangan
Speeding by Spancilhill Cross is of “grave concern” to local residents.
Inclusion of Spancilhill Cross for a low cost safety scheme design was sought by Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) on foot of “serious health and safety concerns with traffic” at the cross and “ongoing speeding” on this section of the Tulla Rd.
A reported collision at the beginning of September on the same section of road was also referenced by the Quin native as she appealed for more regular patrols of the area by An Garda Síochána and the possible location of a speed van on a consistent basis “to address the ongoing speeding and safety issues”. Her proposals were supported by Cllr Ann Norton (IND).
Senior executive engineer with Clare County Council, John Gannon confirmed that the road design office would include Spancilhill Cross on the R352 within the 2022 Grant Funding Application to the Department of Transport for Road Safety improvement Works on Regional & Local Roads.
Traffic speeds will be monitored by Council staff on the approach towards Ennis with findings to be reported to the Gardaí’s traffic department, Gannon added.
Speaking before the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Colleran Molloy detailed that at a recent meeting outside Duggan’s Pub in Spancilhill with local residents “you could feel the vibration coming in from the east at top speed”. She continued, “Farmers have to literally be on the road to see if there is danger of oncoming traffic coming at speed”.
Indicators for establishing Spancilhill “as a settlement would be lacking,” Colleran Molloy acknowledged as she considered the cause for the local authority seeking a speed limit reduction from the National Transport Authority. “We need to have the Gardaí involved in creating a presence there to have people aware that there is a speed trap, 80km/h is too fast and that is the speed limit. This is something of grave concern to the people of Spancilhil,” she concluded.
