North Mayo councillor disappointed with TII proposal for speed limits
Crossmolina-based councillor Michael Loftus disagreed with TII proposal for speed limit in Crossmolina to remain at 50km per hour
A Mayo councillor has expressed disappointment that Transport Infrastructure Ireland are recommending that the speed limit through Crossmolina is not reduced.
A review of speed limits in Ireland proposes that the speed limit in built up areas will be reduced to 30km per hour with the aim to have these limits in place by March 31, 2027. Local authorities are to hold public consultations before any changes are made and Crossmolina-based councillor Michael Loftus said he would welcome proposals to reduce speed limits from 50km per hour to 30.
However, speaking at the monthly meeting of the Ballina Municipal District he expressed his disappointment that the TII were recommending that the N59 which goes through Crossmolina will remain at 50km per hour.
“I am massively disappointed with the proposal for the Crossmolina area where they are looking at maintaining the 50km right through the middle of the town. I have to confess I want to see a reduction of the speed limit down to 30 to make the town safer which I think is the goal of the speed limit review.
“Unfortunately TII have indicated their opposition to that proposal that they want to maintain 50km per hour through the town. Yet the review is put in place to reduce the speed through urban centres and specifically for the likes of Crossmolina,” he said.
Cllr Loftus told the meeting that he once saw an eight year old boy killed on Main Street in Crossmollina and did not want to see something like that happen again.
The deadline for submissions to Mayo County Council on the speed limit review is November 3 and Cllr Loftus called on people to make submissions in their own town.
“The speed review is out there and I have asked people to make submissions in relation to it whether they agree or disagree with me. My proposal is that Main Street and Bridge Street will be reduced to 30km per hour and that is the submission. I would like people to think about it because it is quite important to look at their own towns.
“People need to get submissions in because now is their chance to have their say. If they don't make a statement about it or say something about it, then that's it gone. So I would call on people to really look at the areas that they live in and check the urban areas, especially,” he said.