A WOMAN was knocked down and injured in Clarecastle, sparking calls for action to be taken on a “dangerous junction” in the village. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District last week heard Councillors Paul Murphy and Tom O’Callaghan voice their fears for public safety at the junction where three roads meet.
Councillor Murphy proposed that a Road Safety application be prepared and submitted “as soon as possible” seeking funding to improve safety at the junction of Barrack Street, Old Road and Church Drive / Creggaunahilla.
“This is a dangerous junction where three roads meet and there is the added complication of a carpark being adjacent to it also, a number of pedestrians have been knocked down and this needs to be given priority urgently,” he said.
While Councillor O’Callaghan also asked the council to review the Church Drive road “on safety grounds in Clarecastle due to increased traffic to and from Creggaunnahilla Housing Estate”.
Responding to both councillors’ proposals Conor McDonagh, Executive Engineer, Road Design, stated, “Road Design will carry out an assessment of the relevant junction and thereafter make a determination on what safety measure / intervention is appropriate at this location.”
Councillor Murphy outlined that the junction has seen “increasing frequency” of accidents “most recently in December when a local lady was knocked down and injured quite seriously.”
He said that the village has “outgrown its existing infrastructure” with the junction established a number of years ago when the village was smaller.
As well as increasing traffic, the junction is also a busy location for pedestrians while works at Roche also need to be taken into consideration. He suggested a mini roundabout could be a solution.
Councillor O’Callaghan said the community are “very concerned” given the junction’s proximity to the local church, school and Roche.
Supporting both motions, Councillor Pat Daly said, “This is a very, very busy junction where three roads meet and if Roche is ever replaced it will get busier again, and I would hope they get industry in where Roche is in the very near future.”
Councillor Ann Norton stated, “We always have to have safety as a priority, I think it’s important that the investigation is done to make sure that people feel safe in their own community and that whatever the Ennis Municipal District can do to support local people and prevent accidents is very important.”
Councillor Mary Howard commented, “This needs to be urgently dealt with.” While Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy expressed the hope that the injured lady is recovering well.
Councillor Johnny Flynn said it is time to come up with a redesign to make the junction safe for vulnerable road users including older persons.