Councillors question traffic system after fatal Ballina accident

Ciara Galvin

COUNCILLORS at the Ballina Municipal District monthly meeting have questioned Ballina’s traffic system following a recent fatal road accident.
Last Wednesday, councillors expressed sympathy to the family of Kathleen Slack, who died on September 11 after being struck by a car on Emmett Street in Ballina.
Following the expressions of sympathy, many councillors raised the issue of the traffic system currently in operation in the town.
Fine Gael councillor John O’Hara compared the traffic in the town to that of New York and said the town needed a third bridge to deal with traffic.
Echoing Cllr O’Hara’s sentiments, Fianna FΡil councillor Annie Mae Reape said the flow of traffic in the town was ‘like 5th Avenue’. She added that Emmett Street has become a dangerous area and that a full debate was needed on the issue of traffic management.
Paul Dolan, senior engineer with Mayo County Council, told the councillors that the traffic system had been in place since 2008.
“Accidents are something we don’t want to hear of. The gardaí are still investigating,” said Mr Dolan, adding, “I don’t believe there’s an issue with the [traffic] system.” However, he told the meeting that a regional safety engineer would look at the bridges and the town’s accident history.
“With any crossing action with pedestrians, there is a risk. Unfortunately, we do get accidents. I think the system is working well, a lot better than before,” he added.
Director of Services Paul Benson said the accident was ‘regrettable’ but added that he did not think the accident was caused by the traffic system.
“The real issue here is the bypass of Ballina. All Sligo traffic has to come through the town,” he concluded.