MAKING THEIR POINT Cllr Blackie Gavin and Olivia Hyland pictured at the protest on Sunday. Pic: Michael Brophy
Ger Flanagan
TRANSPORT Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have ‘no option’ but to listen to the demands of Ardboley residents in Balla after huge numbers turned out to protest against the speed limit along the busy N60 Balla to Claremorris on Sunday.
That’s according to Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District, Martin McLoughlin (FF), as he, along with close to 400 locals, turned out in glorious sunshine to campaign against the TII’s refusal to listen to the demands of the councillors and the concerned residents to reduce the speed limit from 100kmh to 60kmh.
The Ardboley Action Committee, politicians, a number of various community groups and parish priest Fr Denis Carney all addressed the large crowd that gathered and extended their full support to the residents.
Protesters waved placards at passing traffic under the watchful eye of the gardaí and stewards and signalled their intent to carry the protests to the TII headquarters in Dublin if the issue is not resolved.
Speaking to The Mayo News about the N60 Balla to Claremorris, incorporating the Ardboley junction, Cllr McLoughlin called on the TII to listen to the demands of the residents and councillors before it is too late.
“What we are looking for is for the TII to come down here and look at this junction specifically, the speed limits have to be adjusted, it is a must,” he said. “The people here are not looking for anything that is not necessary, they are looking for this on a safety ground. They are looking at it for their kids going to school. There is businesses on this road that require heavy vehicles accessing the main road and the TII must address it.
“They must wake up and stop ignoring us like they have to date and look at this junction from a safety point of view.”
Rousing speech
In a rousing speech, Chairman of the Ardboley Action Committee, Tim Lavin, labelled the junction as ‘one of the busiest and most dangerous in the country’ and said that it is only a matter of time before a fatality occurs.
“All we are asking for is the speed limit be moved 50 or 60 metres in the interests of everyone’s safety,” he said. “The responsibility clearly lies with the TII and sadly, only last Thursday did they release this.
“It is by the grace of god that nobody has been killed or seriously injured to date and everybody on the Ardboley Road will tell you of the near misses they have had. But our luck will run out someday.”
A recent survey carried out by the committee members at the junction revealed that 1,622 cars passed in three hours – an average of one every second. Mr Lavin highlighted that this will greatly increase with the opening of the new Tuam motorway extension.
He stressed that councillors, council engineers and the gardaí have all recommended to the TII that they reduce the speed limit, but to no avail.
“The TII appear to be a law unto themselves, accountable to no one,” Mr Lavin continued, the frustration audible in his voice. “We now have the names of three people in authority at the TII and will hold them personally responsible should somebody be hurt or fatally injured.”
Engineers to visit
Fine Gael Senator, Michelle Mulherin, revealed that she had spoken to Pat Maher, Head of Network Management at TII, and that he agreed to send down TII engineers to meet with council engineers to try and resolve the issue.
With the parish church on his backdrop, Fr Denis Carney indicated that he would ‘much rather be here than in the cemetery as a result of an accident’ and labelled it a ‘miracle’ that somebody has not been killed or seriously injured yet.
“It would be a great pity if, as the result of inaction on this – a very simple demand – we were gathered in that cemetery over the wall, supporting our families burying a loved one.
“So I would call on the TII to respond to our request.”
