Speeding must be shown as “a problem” before a reduction in a limit outside Clonmoney NS can be introduced.
A renewed appeal to implement traffic calming measures in proximity to Clonmoney NS was voiced at a recent meeting of the Shannon Municipal District. A 50km/h limit was sought by Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) “on the old N18” approaching Clonmoney NS, The Wells Church and the Dairygold Co-Op in Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Aidan O’Rourke, senior executive engineer in response to O’Gorman’s motion outlined that speed limit reviews are undertaken by the Council’s transportation section. He said that the senior engineer in that unit of the local authority would be informed of the request.
Approximately 186 pupils are enrolled at Clonmoney NS with up to 20 children attending the pre-school. Cllr O’Gorman said that one of the more recent accidents at the school involved a parent having their car rear-ended and subsequently written off. “There are eighteen houses on that small stretch of road from the co-op to McCabe’s B&B,” he stated.
O’Gorman acknowledged that several councillors had tabled motions seeking progress on the matter. “It’s an 80km/h speed limit, it should be looked at with the view of it being a 50km/h and see how many cars are breaking the speed limit then. It is way too fast for such a built up area with a church, school and co-op”.
On three occasions, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) and now retired senior engineer Eugene O’Shea visited the school and studied traffic movements in the morning and at the end of the school day, “the solution is for them to slow down traffic”. The Newmarket-on-Fergus representative admitted that “the problem disappears” during school holidays and after 3pm daily.
Forward thinking was required, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) maintained after it emerged that a low cost safety scheme was unlikely to bring a positive outcome for concerned parties.
Continued representation from councillors was seen as “the most practical step” by O’Rourke. “Once we have the ammunition of being able to show speeding is a problem in area it will be able to be given more priority”. He was unable to confirm when the next speed limit review would be completed.
Up to three years may pass before a review is undertaken, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) cautioned. “They thought Cllr O’Gorman was new on the scene and had a magic wand in his pocket,” the Cratloe representative quipped of the school’s latest move to getting his colleague to visit the location.
“I would hate while we were waiting for a review that it something was to happen a child, we would never forgive ourselves,” Cllr O’Gorman concluded.
