Cllrs get long litany of road repair woes off their chests

THE deteriorating condition of roads in West Cork was highlighted by councillors who tabled no fewer than five motions at a Council meeting calling for urgent repair works or traffic flow improvements.

County mayor Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan (FF) called for the resurfacing of the old Tubereen Road, and for the Council to take over the road at Desert, both of which are in Clonakilty.

Cllr Paul Hayes (SF) also called for a full traffic review in Clonakilty due to recent changes to the public realm and ongoing flood defence works. 

He also requested that the entrance to the technology park and business centre at Brook Park in Dunmanway be resurfaced.

Meanwhile, Cllr Danny Collins (Ind) called on the Council to work with Coillte in relation to the repair of roads in the Borlin Valley that lead to the Derreencollig Forestry, as well as Maugha and Derrynafada, where there is damage to a bridge leading to Coomacroobeg Cappaboy Forestry.

Cllr O’Sullivan said the condition of the Old Tubereen Road was so bad that the potholes could serve as speed ramps and he complained: ‘It has had a serious pounding over the last couple of years.’

He said a drain in the area is now cordoned off with bollards and that there is growth coming up through the road, making it both ‘an eyesore and an obstruction.’

Cllr Hayes suggested that a traffic review of Clonakilty could improve traffic flow, on-street parking, disability access, pedestrian safety and cycle ways.

He said a review would also allow the Council explore the possibility of introducing a new one-way traffic system. Cllr Hayes said the Council was about to ‘sign off’ on a proposed one-way system at Kent Street and that they should use the flood relief works as an opportunity to ‘explore other changes to the flow of traffic in the town.’

He suggested that a one-way flow up McCurtain Hill in the town centre would work well if Patrick’s Hill was made one-way down, back into the town. Cllr Hayes said the new developments in the town – such as the ‘Whale’s Tail’ bistro and the new medical centre behind the distillery would require improved pedestrian access, particularly for older people looking to access the medical centre.

He said the time was also right to be ‘imaginative’ with regard to cycleways in and around the town in order to improve safety for all road users.

Cllr Hayes said: ‘Brook Park is like Ludgate in Skibbereen, but when new customers pull in off the main road it is like landing on the surface of the moon, there are so many craters and potholes. It’s not very professional and does not give a good first impression.’

Locally-based Cllr Declan Hurley (Ind) said he had met with the local area engineers and they agreed a long-term maintenance of the grounds.