Councillors clash over proposed traffic plan

FORMER Mayor of Limerick, Councillor John Gilligan, has clashed with two local councillors over a proposed new traffic plan, which would result in an increase in the number of vehicles travelling through Parteen village.

Councillor Gilligan has accused Clare County Council and two local public representatives of doing nothing to try and alleviate the traffic congestion on the Corbally Road, most of which he claimed is coming from South-East Clare.
In fact, the former mayor claimed Clare County Council is effectively responsible for creating a lot of traffic congestion on the north side of Limerick City after granting large housing estates in the Westbury area without the necessary road infrastructure.
He alleged the county council has facilitated a large increase in the number of residents in the Westbury area, despite reservations about the impact of this policy on Limerick City expressed by executives in Limerick City Council, including the last city manager Tom Mackey.
Councillor Gilligan, who has been calling for a traffic plan for the area for a number of years, recommended that Athlunkard Bridge be made one-way outbound from Limerick City. He also wants traffic coming in from East Clare to go through Parteen and travel into the city by Watch House Cross.
He tabled this proposal at a Limerick City Council meeting on Monday night, where it was decided to refer it to a Strategic Policy Committee on Roads and Transportation.
Residents in Parteen have expressed concern this new traffic plan could result in an increase in the volume of traffic using the village as one of the main routes to Limerick City.
The proposed restriction of traffic using Athlunkard Bridge to one-way from Limerick City to South-East Clare has also been criticised by Clare county councillors.
Parteen resident, Ed English, told The Clare Champion, the new lobby group opposing the construction of the €120 million Northern Distributor Road, has not discussed this proposal. However, he confirmed the group would not be in favour of any traffic plan that would increase the volume of traffic going through Parteen village.
Councillor Gilligan said, “A new road system is planned for that area of the city and now is the time to plan for a diversion of the traffic coming in from Clare. For over 30 years we have been raising the issue of heavy traffic coming into the city from that side of Clare and increasingly it has become worse.
“There are huge traffic volumes and a one-way system would alleviate more than half of the cars coming in over the bridge. Traffic has grown and it’s so bad now that people coming out of the housing estates – Westbury, Rosendale Gardens and so on, frequently find it difficult to get out of their houses.”
Councillor Gilligan’s proposal was criticised as a “non-runner” by Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald, who claimed it would take much longer for vital emergency services coming from Limerick City to reach communities in South-East Clare.
Councillor Fitzgerald also warned this proposal could increase the volume of traffic near Parteen National School and cause tailbacks back as far as Clancy’s Cross.
“Councillor Gilligan should be making it easier for people to travel into Limerick City, not harder,” he said.
Instead, Councillor Fitzgerald proposed Limerick City Council should widen the roundabout at Corbally and provide a new lane for vehicles heading into Corbally from the Broadford Road to go left towards Musgraves and the Dublin Road.
Councillor Cathal Crowe said he was shocked with the proposal.
“This would force hundreds of Clare commuters to make circuitous daily journeys through Parteen village in order to access the city from the Long Pavement Road. Councillor Gilligan’s suggestion is ludicrous and an affront to the people that I represent.
“There are frequent traffic tailbacks in the Shannon Banks, Westbury and Corbally area but congestion could be alleviated by replacing the traffic lights at Westbury with a roundabout, building a new mini-roundabout at the entrance to the Shannon Banks housing estate and providing an effective drop-off zone at Scoil Ide in Corbally.
“Further in the Corbally Road there is an acute need to revise the Grove Island roundabout and provide additional lanes for traffic to enter and exit the roundabout,” he said.
However, Councillor Gilligan said it never ceased to amaze him that Councillors Fitzgerald and Crowe seemed fixated about trying to solve traffic problems  in Limerick City, without doing anything to solve problems in their own areas.
“We have been listening to Clare county councillors saying they want nothing to do with Limerick City and to mind our own business. I have no intention of trying to tell Clare how to solve its traffic problems but I represent people in the Corbally area, who are fed up with traffic congestion and believe it is time this was sorted out.
“Clare councillors were happy to allow large-scale development on the outskirts of Limerick City on the north side without any regard for the problems this could cause for traffic in Limerick City.
“They should concentrate on trying to sort out traffic problems in Parteen and I will look after Corbally. Clare councillors should also be prepared to consider solutions such as a park and ride to try and reduce the level of traffic from East Clare.
“Clare County Council has done nothing for over 25 years and it is about time they sat up and took notice of this problem,” he said.