Councillors defer closure of UL right-of-way

CLARE County Councillors have decided to defer the adoption of the proposed extinguishment of a section of road linking South-East Clare with the Clare campus of the University of Limerick.

A report recommending the permanent closure of 170m of a public right-of-way following an oral hearing in October 2010 was presented to county councillors at their monthly meeting on Monday.
However, Councillors Cathal Crowe and Michael Begley proposed putting this matter back for a month to see if a solution could be found to the lack of parking spaces in Garraun.
In the his report to the council, Marcus O’Connor, who conducted the oral hearing on behalf of Clare County Council, stated until a properly designed entrance is constructed from the proposed Northern Distributor Road, it is evident that significant numbers of pedestrians would continue to access the campus from the Garraun Road.
While the narrowing of the Garraun Road has effectively restricted parking on this road, Mr O’Connor stated there is still a problem with the haphazard parking of about 30 cars a day on the Gillogue Road.
Although it was suggested at the oral hearing that the university should provide a park-and-ride facility for students and staff, Mr O’Connor believes the university has no such obligation and his report could not impose this requirement. However, he acknowledged there is no doubt that the university is the “magnet” causing the parking difficulties on the Gillogue Road and that this would continue until such time as the new entrance from the Northern Distributor Road is established.
“It would be desirable if the university in consultation with Clare County Council could establish, even on a temporary basis, an off-road parking area with 40 to 50 spaces until such time as the new entrance is established.
“The Gillogue Road and the Garraun Road are seriously substandard and are not a suitable or safe access for significant vehicular traffic numbers on to the UL campus.
“There has never been a vehicular access point from Clare to the UL campus and this route should not be allowed to develop as one. The long-term proposal to develop a significant access to the campus from the new Northern Distributor Road is the best overall solution,” he stated.
“It is evident that fishermen and recreational walkers have accessed the banks of the River Shannon from the Garraun Road for some time and it is highly desirable that such access, albeit by a slightly different route, is maintained,” he added.
He recommended that the extinguishment of the public right-of-way at Garraun townland, Clonlara as proposed by Clare County Council be confirmed, subject to an alternative public right of way for pedestrians and cyclists being established.
This alternative right-of-way, provided on an official drawing, should, Mr O’Connor stated, be formally dedicated by the university to the council as a public right-of-way and this dedication should be accepted by the county council.
“The dedication and the acceptance of the dedication should be completed before the order, extinguishing the existing public right of way is made by the council.
“The university should submit, for approval, drawings of the Garraun Road at the start of the extinguished right of way. Details of the turning hammerhead signage, lighting, access for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchairs should be provided; these proposals to be approved by the council and the works carried out by the university,” he stated.
The Garraun Road connects Gillogue, old Burlington Factory and Lame Duck Pub to the back of the University of Limerick.
In recent years, the university purchased land in the locality and erected a palisade fence and security gate at the end of the Garraun Road. This originally served a number of houses but following the purchase of land, it now only serves one dwelling, which will not affect the people who reside in this house.
Motorists used to be able to park at the end of the Garraun Road and walk on to the Clare campus but this was blocked off.