Traffic calming requested on Kilmoney Roads, Carrigaline.
Writes Leo McMahon
For many residents of Carrigaline and South Cork, speeding is the No. 1 issue in the local election, especially for those living along or in the vicinity of the Upper and Lower Kilmoney Roads.John Hosford, a resident of Droim an Oir, has been campaigning several years for measures to combat high speeds along Upper Kilmoney Road which he describes as being ‘like Silverstone’.
On a recent Friday afternoon, when speaking to The Carrigdhoun along the main road near the entrance to his estate, most vehicles that passed were quite clearly exceeding the 50 kilometres per hour speed limit.
‘When I approached Cork County Council about this problem 12 years ago, a speed survey was carried out but nothing else happened,’ he stated, adding that he subsequently raised it at a Community Forum meeting where Gardaí and local councillors were present.
‘Providing flashing speed-activated signs such as those on Church Road, Carrigaline which I use every day (also to be seen on Ballea Road) is futile after it Is in place for a period of time because drivers soon realise that there is no punishment for breaking the speed limit,’ said John.
‘It is widely recognised nationwide that the only effective deterrent that actually works is when fines are issued along with penalty points.’
Interestingly, as John, at the roadside, demonstrated an App on his smartphone which can record speed, nearly every driver that approached actually slowed down. Alongside him was a small 50kph reminder speed limit sign that had been interfered with.
Present that day in the course of canvassing for the County Council election in Carrigaline Municipal District (MD) was Ben Dalton-O’Sullivan (Ind), who told The Carrigdhoun that speeding was the issue that came up more than any other in the many estates on the south western side of Carrigaline but in other areas too.
‘One resident living between Maurland and Woodview, along Lower Kilmoney Road told me he couldn’t reverse his car on to the main road due to the high speed of passing traffic’, said Ben who added that speeding was also a concern on the corner of the R611 between Clevedon and Wrenville. He has called for additional resources.
Phenomenal Growth
Factors which have ensured that the traffic and speeding problem look set to get worse are the phenomenal growth in housing all the way out beyond Castle Heights (with more on the way). Alongside this is the increased use of what is now perceived as an unofficial, but below standard, Southern Carrigaline by-pass from the Crosshaven Road via Ferney Road and Foster’s Cross to Piper’s Cross on the R611 and vice versa.
‘Added to this,’ said John, ‘is the fact that Kilmoney Road Upper is the main access to the recently built new schools at the top of the relief road, adjoining it where, along sections, there are no footpaths at present for pedestrian students and parents arriving and leaving these schools.
‘Bus Eireann, using both Kilmoney Roads, has dramatically increased its frequencies to every 15 minutes per day and every 30 after 11pm, 24 hours a day. Exceeding of the speed limit by some double-deckers has been regularly witnessed, especially in the early hours’. Traffic calming measures are now urgently needed, said John Hosford.
At The Doorstep
The problem of speeding was again raised at the recent meeting of Bandon-Kinsale MD by Cllr Aidan Lombard (FG) who is a candidate in the Carrigaline LEA.
In welcoming the fact that funding had been allocated to resurface nearby Ferney Road later this year, he said Upper Kilmoney Road was an obvious continuation of this as part of an unofficial Carrigaline southern relief road so it obviously needed more traffic calming.
Cllr Lombard acknowledged previous efforts made and the fact Gardaí had carried out speed checks but it needed a comprehensive scheme which was more bus, bicycle and pedestrian friendly and asked that the process for this be commenced. He asked if measures put in were successful.
An Cathaoirleach also referred to the ongoing problem of speeding at Lower Kilmoney Road and asked that this be surveyed regardless of the possible start of construction later this year of the Carrigaline Western Relief Road and added that speeding came up on the doorstep of nearly every house during the local election campaign.
Ferney Road
In reply to a motion from Cllr Lombard seeking an update on the proposed improvement of Ferney Road, Carrigaline, Senior Executive engineer Charlie McCarthy said he was informed by the road design office that there was an ongoing process with landowners.
Once the accommodation package was agreed, the council could proceed to the tender process, procurement and then construction. He was not in a position to give a start date.
The MD unanimously recommended the council lease for five years, Unit 7, Carrigaline Industrial Park to Designtech Engineering Ltd, which specializes in light stainless steel fabrication and precision machining, for €615 per month including VAT.
Read the remainder of the edition here: http://subscriber.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/subscribe.aspx?eid=c946bff2-f434-4a7b-a75d-621998d7e750
Comments