Parking byelaws for Cavan and other major towns
The “traffic situation” in Cootehill was highlighted by Fine Gael’s Carmel Brady who is calling for “parking regulations” in the town.
She asked Cavan County Council to “commence the process of changing the byelaws” to bring measures to help alleviate traffic in the town.
Cllr Brady described it as an “industrial town” with the first wave of traffic beginning in the morning time at around 8:30am when teachers and factory workers travel to work. She said “again” traffic picks up at around 2:30-3pm due to school collection times; while the secondary school finishes at 4pm bringing another wave of traffic and finally, any time between 4-6pm factory shifts are changing and people are leaving their workplaces for the day.
“Residents of the Cavan town road have sent me numerous videos of them blocked in,” she stated, claiming there were “problems” getting to the last two fire emergency callouts due to traffic.
Cllr Brady pointed out that there are a number of new developments due to come to the surrounding areas, meanwhile roads such as the Ashfield road are being used as a “rat race” during busy times, with no spaces to pull in for oncoming traffic, meaning drivers “have to reverse back.”
She asked that the council “start the process in changing the byelaws to improve traffic in the town”.
Stiofán Conaty (SF) seconded the motion, describing the traffic as “outrageous” in the town and raised concerns about first responders getting to emergencies.
Legal review
Area Manager Clinton Mulligan told those gathered that parking byelaws are currently “undergoing legal review” and that they will to go public consultation in the new year.
Director of Services Paddy Connaughton said it’s “intended” they will come in place in Cavan and the “major towns”. While the new parking byelaws are in the pipeline.
On the issue of roads, Cllr Clifford Kelly (FF) described the junction beside Coláiste Dún an Rí on the Kingscourt to Shercock road as a “major health and safety issue”.
He said it is “deadly dangerous” and told those gathered “I was nearly gone on it myself coming out of a meeting.”