Concern growing in Castlerea over traffic scheme

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has been accused of disregarding the planning process.

During a Part 8 planning process earlier in the year, councillors of the Roscommon Municipal District raised concerns about the impact planned safety works on St. Patrick Street, Castlerea would have on parking, and they called for the plans to be amended. The plans proposed the provision of two new pedestrian crossings on Main Street with the existing pedestrian crossings to be upgraded.

In a response to the councillors’ concerns, TII said it had approved funding for this scheme but that any changes would require a resubmission of the design report. It the proposed changes resulted in the scheme failing to achieve the previously agreed safety benefits, “funding may be withdrawn from the scheme” the letter said.

Cllr Nigel Dineen said it was very disappointing news, adding that safety crossings were needed.

“Six or seven thousand vehicles go through Castlerea every day,” Cllr Dineen said. “The people were very clear, but what they wanted was not in accordance with TII. To think that they could withdraw the funding is scandalous to tell you the truth.” He added that TII could not withdraw the funding “because it didn’t get what it wanted”.

Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice said that the benefits of the pedestrian crossing had been agreed to “with minor” alterations to the overall scheme.

“They wouldn’t have affected the overall scheme of the traffic lights,” he said.

He said that there had been public meetings about the scheme, and it was very clear that people were concerned that parking on the street would be impacted by it.

“We made it clear that we didn’t want to see that parking removed and we came up with alternatives, a number of places where car parks could be achieved relatively cheaply.” He said that it would have been only a fraction of the cost of a public realm scheme to achieve the car parks. Removing parking on St Patrick Street would have resulted in a number of businesses not being able to trade or receive deliveries, he added.

“People living on that street would have to walk up to 200 metres to get to their houses. It was totally unacceptable to all of us,” he said.

“If you look at Roscommon Town, there has been a huge investment in parking at the rear of premises, but that has never been achieved in Castlerea, even though we have been looking for it for years. The reply is very disappointing.” He called for TII to progress the pedestrian crossings in the interest of safety. This was agreed by the meeting.

“It is important to point out we have agreed with 90 per cent of what is proposed. It is only minor alterations we were looking for,” Cllr Fitzmaurice said.

MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Anthony Waldron asked that the TII be invited down to meet concerned people, including wheelchair users.

Outgoing councillor Orla Leyden said that it was concerning that TII was “disregarding” the Part 8 planning process as the changes proposed had come from that process.

“If they really understand the Part 8 process and the engagement with the public, that is the end of it,” she said. “It’s not a case, that if the process doesn’t come back with the response, we don’t accept it.” She accused TII of being completely out of touch with the people it served. She added that off street parking in Castlerea had to be a priority for the next council term.

“The TII needs to be reminded that the part 8 process is fundamental,” she said.

Outgoing councillor Kathleen Shanagher said that the public’s concerns needed to be heard.