Offaly councillor looks for canal to be made safer for users

Local councillor Tony McCormack has put a motion forward for discussion at the next meeting of the Tullamore Municipal District.

Cllr McCormack's motion reads as follows,  "That Tullamore MD work with the local Gardai to make our canals a safer place to walk or run"

Cllr McCormack told the Tribune “in light of what has happened in the last few weeks, it important that people can feel safe when they're  out for a walk or a run along the canal.

“ The beauty that is our greenways and the lovely canal, with its long or short walks with nature everywhere and every walk being different as the seasons come and go. It has come to my attention recently that groups of people, mainly men congregate  along certain parts of the canal drinking, which makes other users, especially women feel unsafe. Drinking in public places is not allowed under our byelaws and I will be asking the Council to work with the local Gardai to ensure that this doesn't happen anymore and for the council to put signage along the canal in different languages to explain that you can't drink in open spaces and that if caught a fine will be imposed.

“It is very important that these byelaws are enforced and if we require new byelaws to deal with this issue, then we need to work on those, it is important that we all feel safe using this beautiful amenity."