Council denies new crossings are damaging cars

Council refute that new crossings are damaging cars


Edwin McGreal
edwinmcgreal@mayonews.ie

Management of Castlebar Town Council have vehemently refuted suggestions that the new ‘courtesy crossings’ in the town centre were damaging cars that drove over them.
Cllr Frank Durcan told the October meeting of the authority that ‘fresh oil of sumps of engines’ was left all over the ramps on Main Street in the town every day, saying that cars with low profile tyres were having particular difficulty.
“It is only a matter of time before a car is destroyed,” he said. Saying that motor carsare ‘very highly taxed’, he asked that the height of the ramps be lowered.
Town Engineer SeΡn Higgins said that all the ramps were built to standard size while Town Manager Seamus Granahan said that it is a matter of drivers taking more care.
“If there is oil coming out of cars it is because people are driving over the ramps too quickly. The reason for them was to make the street a pedestrian-friendly street. If people drive slowly enough there won’t be a problem.
“As well as this oil is a very visual substance. The amounts of oil on the street are minimal and definitely not in line with any sump being split. We have to think about the safety of the pedestrians. It was a huge issue on the street before [the ramps were put in] with cars speeding late and night.
The ramps are there for that reason and there is no proposal to change that,” said Mr Granahan.
Cllr Durcan said that ambulance and bus drivers had been ‘onto me’ with concerns and also said that people were not aware that the crossings were not pedestrian crossings - where walkers have the right of way - but were courtesy crossings, which meant drivers only have to let pedestrians cross if they want to.

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