Writes Leo McMahon
Drivers may have to wait until 2026 for the 30 kilometres per hour speed limit entering and exiting Crosshaven to be changed back to 50kph.
On the agenda at Monday’s meeting of Carrigaline Municipal District (MD) was a motion from Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF) asking the council to revert the 30kph limit to 50kph on the outskirts of Crosshaven. ‘I’m receiving a lot of complaints, especially that once you get into the village, the other roads to the Point and Church Bay etc are 50kph’, she stated.
In a report, acting senior executive engineer Alan Cogan pointed out that the measures implemented were agreed by councillors at MD level and at full council. The next county wide review of speed limits by the council was scheduled for 2006, he added.
Cllr Buckley said she was baffled that a 30kph limit applied from the Greenway car park as far as pedestrian crossing by the yacht club and wondered if this could be altered as part of an overview under the Crosshaven Framework Project, (about its public realm including traffic and parking etc). She added that while a 30kph limit applied there, it didn’t near schools which were in a 50kph zone.
Senior executive engineer Madeleine Healy replied that 30kph zones were aimed mainly at town centres. Everywhere else in an urban area would be 50kph except for some estates where a 30kph was required and agreed. She didn’t see how change could be effected under the Crosshaven plan which in itself would take time to be put into effect.
Cllr Michael Paul Murtagh (FG) said he was never an advocate of the 30kph speed limit but agreed with Cllr Buckley that there were now anomalies in Crosshaven such as the section of road outside Centra and other premises being 50kph and then becoming 30kph from the roundabout by Crosshaven House and out of the village. He agreed that it should be amended, adding that he favoured future public realm projects providing for suggested speed limits.
Ms Healy said that if there were any anomalies or absence of signage in Crosshaven these would be addressed but reminded members that the council voted for a 30kph limit which was advertised, as it was legally bound to do. Senior executive officer Nicola Radley concurred, reminding councillors that reviewing and changing speed limits was a reserved function of elected members.
Cllr Marcia D’Alton (Ind) said a similar situation applied in Monkstown village where it was impossible to keep to the 30kph limit, yet narrower streets and residential areas off it such as Castle Terrace and the Glen were 50kph, effectively inviting drivers to go faster. There was need to reduce speed approaching Monkstown.
In reply to a motion from Cllr Buckley who asked about the raised table crossing previously agreed for between Barnes’ Lane and the parking lot by the Royal Cork Yacht Club, Crosshaven, Mr. Cogan said a submission was made in 2022 for funding for traffic calming under the Low Cost Safety Scheme but no funding was granted. A submission had been made for inclusion this year and an outcome awaited.
Cllr Murtagh had a motion seeking an update on the Crosshaven Project scheme arising out of road safety concerns. MD officer Carol Conway reported that the draft framework document was circulated for comments and those received were considered by consultant Brady Shipman Martin. The final draft would be signed off by council management and circulated to councillors and relevant parties.