Traffic Calming Scheme Sought Near Community Centre in Passage West

 Writes Leo McMahon

Measures to curb speeding on the main R610 road near Fr Gerard Collins Parish Centre and Youth Club in Passage West were urged by Cllr Eoghan Fahy (SF) at the recent meeting of the county council’s Carrigaline Municipal District (MD).

He suggested a Low Cost Safety Improvement Scheme for traffic calming or else some other funding stream.

Cllr Fahy said it was the third time the proposal was on the agenda. It was a very busy community centre used by various groups including scouts, the youth club, a church body, the Men’s Shed and rowing club and there were activities there daily. He suggested a raised table crossing outside the centre.

Traffic on the busy main R610 road near Fr Gerard Collins Parish Centre and Youth Club, Passage West - photo Leo McMahon

Seconding, Cllr Una McCarthy (FG) said she had a similar motion a few months ago.  ‘It’s a very busy section of road. The centre is used widely by young people on a daily basis and it’s imperative to have a raised crossing’. Cllr Patrick Donovan (FF) spoke in support.

In a report, executive engineer Andrew O’Brien said no low cost funding scheme funding had yet been announced and the MD would await to see what allocation it got and if it was possible to carry out works there this year.

Speeding at Highlands

Cllr Fahy also had a motion asking the council to engage with residents of Highlands, off Church Hill, Passage West regarding a request for speed calming measures in the estate.

Unfortunately, it seemed, estates were no longer getting speed ramps. He acknowledged the efforts of the council, including signs, and that it was often down to driver behaviour but at Highlands, three animals had been killed since January, all due to speeding and residents had held a meeting about the problem.

Seconding, Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF) said cars parking on footpaths was another problem and suggested Community Gardai be contacted about this and speeding, adding that some of those who flew through estates, lived there. Cllr. Fahy agreed.

In support, Cllr Patrick Donovan (FF) said each councillor knew of estates where residents were crying out for traffic calming. Parking of vehicles on footpaths was his bugbear because these were for walking and agreed the MD should reach out to the community guards on the issue.

‘Children at Play – 30kph’ signs would be erected at the entrance to Highlands, the engineer reported.  He also pointed out that the council had carried out footpath and surface improvements there and urged the need at residents meeting to call on drivers living in such estate to slow down. This was noted by Cllr Fahy.

In support of the motion, Cllr McCarthy said council management should be written to and asked for its policy on speed ramps because it was difficult for councillors to tell residents seeking these that they couldn’t when ramps were to be seen in other estates.  Members needed to know the council’s policy going forward.

An cathaoirleach Cllr Ben Dalton-O’Sullivan (Ind) agreed and said he recently got a request for speed ramps at Maurland, Carrigaline.  There was only so much a council could do but a county-wide policy was needed.

On the suggestion of MD officer Denise Kidney, it was agreed to contact the council’s Roads Strategic Policy committee of which Cllr Fahy is a member.

Main Street, Passage

Cllr McCarthy had a motion requesting that Main Street, Passage West be included in the 2026 road resurfacing programme.

In a response, the engineer said this would be reviewed but other roads were on the priority list for works this year.

Noting this, Cllr McCarthy said: ‘It’s really poor. There are lots of potholes on both sides of the road.’

Seconding, Cllr Fahy said he had the same motion last September. He thanked council workers for filling pot holes recently but urged it at least be included on the 2027 programme.  Cllr Dalton-O’Sullivan concurred.