West Cork councillors are considering submitting appeals to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to have dangerous speed limits in some parts of West Cork reduced.

TII’s decision to agree to reduce one 80kmph zone to 60 in the Ballylickey area prompted a discussion about including several other areas where locals think the speed limits are excessive.

Paul Sutton, a senior executive officer with the council’s roads and transportation department, suggested that the councillors could follow the same appeals process as proved successful for Ballylickey.

He explained that trying to change the speed limit on national roads takes time and must be submitted to TII.

Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) identified the speed on the roadway from the Schull Road roundabout to the Bridge in Skibbereen as being ‘way too fast’.

He said it needs to be reduced because it is so close to the town centre and runs alongside a very narrow footpath used by lots of people.

Cllr Carroll said he would consider making an application to TII to have the speed limit on the Schull road reduced, while Cllr Daniel Sexton (Ind Ire) argued that the ridiculousness of the speed limits in Ballinascarthy need to be seen to be believed.

Cllr Sexton claimed the 100kmph zone comes right up to the village, at both sides, pointing out that a delegation had requested a speed limit reduction six or seven years ago but it fell on deaf ears.

Today, Cllr Sexton said, motorists can do 100kmph nearly right into the village, and community volunteers who try to maintain the approach roads believe the road is dangerous.

Mr Sutton explained that speed limits are reviewed every five years by TII, but councillors can use the appeals process if they want something changed in the meantime.

Cllr Daniel Sexton claimed that TII is disconnected from what is happening in local towns and villages. ‘Our villages are growing but the speed limit zones are not.’

‘The people in Dublin who are making these decisions need to come down and try to walk or drive into that village. The 100kmph zone shouldn’t be there.  It’s ridiculous,’ he added.

Cllr Brendan McCarthy (FG) said Leap – where a school, a shop and a church, as well as different side roads and junctions, all converge at the main thoroughfare ¬– needs traffic calming, and a reduced speed limit, more than most.

‘It’s deadly dangerous,’ said Cllr McCarthy who was only half-joking when he suggested that the recent scarecrow festival should be made a year-round event because it has the effect of making  motorists slow down on the approach road.

Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) agreed that the scarecrows are very arresting, including the one of the garda with the speed gun. ‘They are so life like,’ he joked, ‘I saw one of our local TDs talking to one of them.’

The good news for Leap, according to senior executive engineer John Ahern, is that the National Roads Office is advancing its plans for a new, improved pedestrian crossing.

‘The proposal for the pedestrian crossing at the eastern side of the village has gone for approval. Then it will go for funding, so it should be completed next year,’ said Mr Ahern, who pointed out that a second application for a pedestrian crossing at the western side of the village, near the town park, has also been submitted to TII.