Straide ’horrified’ at plans to close level crossings

Straide resident ‘horrified’ at plans to close three level crossings


Anton McNulty

PLANS by Iarnrod Éireann to close three level crossings at Straide will be opposed by local residents who feel their community will be effectively cut off and left in an isolated and vulnerable position.
Last week, Iarnród Éireann submitted an application to Mayo County Council to provide a new public access road, to upgrade an existing underbridge and to close the three existing level crossings along the Ballina to Manulla Junction line near Straide. One of the crossings, XX32, was the location where local farmer, PJ McGowan, died when his car was struck by a train when he was crossing the line last February.
However, a local resident told The Mayo News that he, along with other residents in the townlands of Cloonconlon and Knockshanbally near Straide, was ‘horrified’ when he heard that the existing level crossings were to be closed. Mr Jerry King said the closures would lead to an increased distance of approximately four kilometres in round trips for residents to travel and felt this would lead to delays in emergency services reaching their destination. He added that the residents only found out that XX31, XX32 and XX33 were to be closed when the site notices were placed on the crossings last Thursday, and they were never consulted by Iarnród Éireann.
“The residents would not mind if XX32 and XX33 were closed, if it increased safety, but XX31 is used by all the residents and people who visit the area, including delivery vehicles and emergency services. There was no consultation with the residents and we were horrified when we saw the site notices at the crossing. I use the crossing about eight times a day and it could be used up to 100 times a day. It would mean a serious decrease in the quality of life from a personal and social perspective with a consequent devaluation of land and property.
“XX31 is on the main road to 20 houses and is one of the safest crossings on the line with a half a mile view of the line on either side. We can’t understand why they would want to close this crossing. There are serious health and safety issues because it will be harder for an ambulance or fire brigade to reach us and, with the additional distance, every minute lost could be the difference between life and death,” he said.
The upgrade of an underbridge under the rail-line is proposed to be used by the residents as an exit route, but Mr King said this was unsuitable because the existing underbridge is currently vulnerable to flooding and plans to increase the size of the underbridge will bring it below the level of the water table.
Mr King explained that the residents were organising a petition against the closures and a public meeting at the XX31 crossing is planned for this Saturday morning at 11am, and they have invited representatives from Iarnród Éireann to explain their situation. He added that the residents were also concerned with the proposal to extinguish the rights of way on the roads and said they will be objecting to the current plans.
A spokesperson for Iarnrod Éireann told The Mayo News that the closure of the three level crossings was part of a network-wide programme of the elimination of level crossings. She said that since the death of Mr McGowan there were calls locally by residents to address the issue of the level crossing. She concluded that it was decided to remove the crossings at Straide because they were considered high-risk, and a new access road and the underpass would be provided for the residents affected by the closures.