Chaos on Skibbereen's narrow North St

‘CHAOS’ is the word that Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) used to describe the traffic congestion at North Street in Skibbereen.

Speaking at a meeting of the West Cork Municipal District, Cllr Carroll told his colleagues that he had raised the matter with Tim Lucey, the chief executive of Cork County Council.

‘Anyone can see there is chaos there some days and it is worst of all in the summertime.’

Cllr Carroll said he had witnessed ‘a lady from another country having to reverse a camper van’ and he spoke of the look of horror on the faces of unsuspecting lorry drivers who found themselves stuck halfway down the street.

‘This has to be taken further. The administration will have to sit up and take notice,’ said Cllr Carroll, as he repeated his call for a temporary traffic light system to be put in place.

Area engineer Michael Tobin said a random solution was not the answer to the problem because people would adjust their driving habits and it could have a knock-on effect on other parts of the town.

Municipal officer Justin England pointed out that there will be a traffic management plan put in place at the square and that it might resolve the problem, but Cllr Carroll expressed his criticism of studies and plans and proposals saying: 

‘Why does an expensive consultant have to be brought in? You don’t need an expert to find out if it is going to work or not.’