Concerns raised about plans for changes in north Offaly town

INDEPENDENT Ireland councillor for the Edenderry Municipal District, Fergus McDonnell, has serious concerns regarding an Active Travel plan currently being formulated by the Offaly County Council Active Travel team for Daingean town.

Cllr McDonnell said he has engaged with local business and motorists and members of the public in Daingean and also with Offaly County Council Active Travel staff over the last number of weeks on the implications for local business in Daingean.

The councillor said the Active Travel plan for Daingean includes new and improved footpaths from Daingean GAA towards Main Street, continued roadside across the Grand Canal bridge, joining up at Daingean playground.

The plans also include double yellow lines outside Scully’s Centra for a distance along Main Street with a vertical deflection around the junction at Scully’s Centra, as well as relocating a disabled car parking space.

“An immediate impact of double yellow lines outside the local convenience store and post office will primarily affect our older citizens and people with disabilities,” he stated.

Cllr McDonnell emphasised his commitment to improving road safety for all throughout the Edenderry Municipal District, including Daingean.

He said he had specifically mentioned traffic calming “in and towards Daingean” as an issue for the Municipal District.

“I have consulted widely with interested parties in Daingean including store owners, Enda and Mary Scully, their customers and with local people generally and the consensus is clearly, widespread concern,” he said.

“If the proposed active travel plans I saw sight of are implemented, I believe local businesses and the public will suffer economically and socially with 35% to 40% of customers generated from passing traffic.

“My understanding from my discussions with Enda and Mary Scully, owners of Scully’s Centra, a combined 36 people are employed between both outlets and my concern is to protect these critical jobs and to safeguard the future of Daingean post office.”

Concluding, Cllr McDonnell said he will again recommend that speed ramps on the Edenderry road approach to Daingean Main Street be at least trialled as a method of slowing traffic into Daingean.