More bus shelters on the way, but parking spaces may be hit

The long-anticipated rollout of new bus shelters across several towns and villages in the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District is edging closer - but not without compromise.

Elected members were told the placement of shelters must be handled carefully to avoid negatively impacting traffic flow, and in some cases may come at the expense of some existing on-street parking.

Aontú’s Adrian Rogers sought an update at the March MD meeting, particularly in relation to Bailieborough. He noted that Senator Sarah O’Reilly and former Sinn Féin councillor Paddy McDonald had previously met with officials from the National Transport Authority to discuss the matter.

It was confirmed that €1.5M in funding has been secured for shelters, with Ballyhaise, Shercock and Kingscourt among the locations selected.

“What happened to Bailieborough? And what happened to Cootehill?” Cllr Rogers asked.

Senior Area Engineer Clinton Mulligan said the process of installing shelters is not straightforward. Funding has been allocated under the Active Travel Scheme, with Ballyhaise, Shercock and Kingscourt identified, the rationale being that they present as “low-hanging fruit” due to their accessibility and the relative ease of delivery.

“We were looking at locations where we can deliver this year,” said Mr Mulligan, noting there are various “challenges” when it comes to installing such infrastructure.

“Some locations have to be tweaked,” he added, pointing out that Road Safety Audits must also be completed before projects can proceed to tender.

Mr Mulligan acknowledged there is a “long list” of areas that could benefit from shelters, but stressed that safety remains the overriding priority.

Fianna Fáil’s Clifford Kelly welcomed plans for a shelter in Kingscourt, highlighting the “huge number” of buses serving commuters there daily.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Carmel Brady said public consultation is “ongoing” in Cootehill to determine the best location.

“One morning there were 40 people on the street waiting for a bus to Monaghan,” she noted.

Fianna Fáil’s Niall Smith questioned whether this means plans for Bailieborough could be delayed.

In response, Mr Mulligan said the council is still seeking a “suitable location” in Bailieborough, and the Town Regeneration Plan - set to bring significant investment to Main Street and surrounding areas - will guide decisions.

However, he stressed that the council is determined to avoid installing shelters that could create obstructions, a concern that applies equally to both Bailieborough and Cootehill.