Cllrs wants to know the rate of accidents at ‘Chip Van Corner'

By BRIAN MOORE

ONCE again the notoriously dangerous bend, known as Chip Van Corner, on the N71 between Bandon and Innishannon, was the topic of much discussion at a meeting of the Western Committee of Cork County Council last week.

Cllr Rachel McCarthy (SF) called on Council director of services, Tom Stritch, to make a plan to deal with the ever-growing number of accidents occurring at this well-known black spot. 

‘We must do something about the road at Chip Van Corner,’ Cllr McCarthy said. ‘There isn’t a week that goes by without some accident happening at this dangerous bend on the N71. We have discussed this here numerous times, and still, nothing gets done to sort out the problem.’

Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) told the meeting that he believes that the bend at Chip Van Corner is probably the most dangerous stretch of road in Co Cork, if not the country. ‘It seems a week doesn’t go by without traffic coming to a halt because of an accident there. As other councillors here have already stated, we, and indeed the councillors who came before us, have been discussing this section of the N71 for many years now, and still the problem is getting worse – not better,’ Cllr Murphy said. 

Cllr McCarthy asked Mr Stritch if he knew how many accidents had occurred there in the last two years.

‘The road safety engineer will contact the gardaí in connection with the number of accidents at this bend. And a report will be submitted to the members as soon as it is completed,’ Mr Stritch said.

However, Cllr Paul Hayes (SF) stated that he was aware of up to five accidents in one week happening at Chip Van Corner. 

‘This stretch of the N71 is getting more and more dangerous every day. I know that motorists must take some responsibility for the speed at which they approach the corner, but I have heard of five accidents at that bend which happened in the space of one week. The gardaí in Bandon are sure to have the exact fig ures,’ Cllr Hayes said.