Speeding a problem throughout Tullamore area warn councillors

A CALL on the Gardai to continue with random speed checks in the Tullamore area has been made by a local councillor.

Speaking at Friday's meeting of Tullamore Municipal District, Cllr Neil Feighery said speeding remained a major issue right across the area.

He made his comments after a briefing by Area Engineer, John Connelly, on progress on roadworks in the area during the year to date.

Cllr Feighery's concerns were backed up by Cllr Tony McCormack who said speeding was a consequence of road surfacing work. He said there was a need to slow vehicles through traffic calming measures.

Mr Connelly said 22 of 24 planned resurfacing schemes had been carried out with the entire Tullamore to Rahan road having being resurfaced over the past number of years.

He said three schemes – at Ballybought, Cartron Glebe and Earlscartron – had been carried out under the Communty Involvement Scheme while a total of €175,000 had been spent on eight schemes under the Local Improvement Scheme. In the former the community contribution had been €9,310 while €19,433 was the contribution from the community in the latter scheme.

Work had also been carried out on three bridges – Cappincur, Ballycowan and Rahan – as well as three schemes under Climate Adaptation – Church St, Clara, Arden Road, Tullamore and Ballycumber.

While not much funding had been received for national secondary roads this year safety measures had been carried out at Durrow Cross, outlined Mr Connelly.

Cathaoirleach, Cllr Frank Moran said some clarity was needed on the work at Church St in Clara and he complimented the council team on the progress achieved this year. Mr Connelly replied the Clara scheme would be going out to tender shortly.

Cllr Feighery said there had been badly needed investment in roads at Ballinamere, Rahan and Screggan. He also welcomed safety measures at Killoughey Cross.

Cllr Declan Harvey said work was needed on the road at Clonminch."Just yesterday I received a call from a person who lost control of their bike and fell off avoiding a pothole there."

He also called for roadworks in Dillon St in Tullamore as there were some potholes there.

Cllr McCormack asked that work take place on the golf club road next year while Cllr Ollie Bryant called for the work scheduled to take place at Ross this year be included in next year's programme. Its inclusion next year was confirmed by Mr Connelly.

Cllr Aoife Masterson observed there was a unique road structure in Offaly due to the bogs.

"Great work has been carried out in Screggan. . . when the by-pass came people thought that area would be forgotten."

She asked that traffic calming measures be put in place where children played regularly such as the GAA pitch in Killurin. Cllr Moran suggested this issue should be brought up at the next Joint Policing Committee meeting.

Cllr Harvey also called for the reinstatment of a fence at the lane linking Thornsberry Estate to Connolly Park in Tullamore which had been taken away during roadworks