Ballyvaughan sign to be replaced

A DISPUTE between business people in North Clare and Clare County Council over the removal of an iconic sign in Ballyvaughan may be about to end after the local authority announced it would erect directional signs for the Coast Road early next month and reinstate the controversial sign but at a new location.
People involved in tourism businesses located between Ballyvaughan and Lisdoonvarna on the Coast Road expressed their anger in recent weeks about the removal of a sign in Ballyvaughan that they claimed resulted in a serious decline in passing traffic.
In a letter to councillors, Nora Kaye, director of services, planning, land use and transportation, stated the council has ordered signs and “as soon as they are received, they will be erected”.
Ms Kaye said she hoped “the signs will be in place by early July”.
Ross Quinn of wine bar Vasco in Fanore, who previously stated the removal of the sign led to a “reduction of approximately 70% of tourist traffic passing” his premises, has described the council’s move as positive.
“I think it is great that they will put up suitable signage. The difficulty for us and other businesses along here is that we have already lost out on two months of trade here this summer. We are left with just July and August and maybe the first week or two in September. It is essential that we have tourists on the Coast Road.
“Every day that there isn’t traffic on the Coast Road is a day of lost revenue and reduced hours for workers. While the council’s move is positive, I would see two notes of caution. One is that the signs should be put up as soon as they arrive and that those making the signs should be made aware of the urgency of the matter.
“The second thing is that the signs should not just say ‘Coast Road’ but should show where the coast road goes to. So my proposal was for them to say ‘Coast Road to Cliffs of Moher’ or alternatively ‘Coast Road to Galway’ in the other direction,” Mr Quinn commented.
“There is no use in putting up signs saying it is the ‘Coast Road to Fanore’ because Fanore isn’t on any maps and there are no signs up to tell people they are entering Fanore when they get there,” he added.
Mick O’Toole of Craggagh Post Office and shop in Fanore, who said he also saw a significant drop in passing business, told The Clare Champion the promises made by the council in the letter are “reasonable”.
“It is positive but it is a pity the council didn’t consult with us first. If they do what is outlined in the letter, then that is reasonable,” he said.
“Our concern now is that the clock is ticking and Friday is the first of July and the lack of signage is having adverse effect now. The effect is very noticeable as there is very little traffic on the road. If the signs aren’t there, the tourists are not going to come here and it is not their fault because they are not being given a choice,” Mr O’Toole continued.
“I welcome the decision to erect the new signs but am disappointed they took the other sign down without a plan in place. I regret that they put the cart before the horse in relation to that and if they had asked us what we thought, we would have given our opinion. Now at least this seems positive and if it is as it seems, we are fully behind it,” he concluded.
County councillors decided to hold a special meeting to discuss the difficulties with the Ballyvaughan sign and other tourist signs after a debate at a meeting on Monday.
Councillor Brian Meaney suggested the sign should be preserved as a protected structure in a prominent place for tourists.
Councillor Joe Arkins requested a report should be provided outlining the history of accidents, if any, at the Ballyvaughan junction. Concern about the impact on the business community after the removal of the sign was expressed by Councillor Michael Kelly while Councillor Richard Nagle claimed the NRA’s policy in relation to signs on national roads in North Clare isn’t working.
Councillor Patricia McCarthy stressed it is important to clarify why the sign was taken down and felt the NRA should never have been allowed to implement its own policy on signage.
In her letter to members of Clare County Council, Miss Kaye stated the local authority “is acutely aware of the need to advertise tourism facilities in the county” and “is anxious to ensure that businesses are accommodated in terms of appropriate signage to facilitate both businesses and visitors.
“However, the council has a legal duty as the roads authority in terms of public and road safety. The issue relating to signage at Ballyvaughan is an example of a situation where the council wishes to promote businesses in the area, while simultaneously exercising responsibility in relation to safety.
“Following discussions with the National Roads Authority, the body which determines policy in relation to national roads, the sign at Ballyvaughan, bearing approximately 20 individual signs, was not appropriately located in terms of public and road safety.
“However, this particular sign is regarded as an attraction in itself and Clare County Council recognises the tourism and heritage value of the sign. Conscious of this, Clare County Council is agreeable to erect a sign at an alternative location. For road safety and pedestrian safety, it is not possible to place the sign in its original location,” Ms Kaye explained.
According to the director of services, the council is contacting the Ballyvaughan Development Council “with a view to identifying an alternative location which would meet the wishes of the local community”.
“In relation to general discussions regarding directional signage and particularly signage along the coastal route, Clare County Council will facilitate the provision of additional tourism-orientated signage on the approaches to Ballyvaughan and further south on the N67 advising of the scenic coastal route option, which would have the effect of directing traffic flow onto the coastal route, via Black Head and Fanore.
“These signs have been ordered and as soon as they are received, they will be erected. It is hoped that the signs will be in place by early July,” the letter stated.
In addition to this, Clare County Council confirmed it would consider, all individual applications for licenses to erect signage along the public roadway.
According to Ms Kaye, these measures represent a “genuine effort by Clare County Council to alleviate the concerns of the local community while acting in the best interests of public and road safety”.