Road to Louisburgh is 'the worst in the county' claims councillor

A WEST Mayo councillor has described the road to Louisburgh as 'the worst in the county' and claims that it is putting jobs at risk in the town.

Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell raised the state of the Westport to Louisburgh road which has deteriorated recently following the upgrade of the water supply to homes around Murrisk.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council, Cllr Maxwell said that lorry drivers were complaining that it is the worst road in Mayo at the moment and local businesses were afraid they would stop travelling to Louisburgh.

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“I had the manager of our local builders providers, O'Malley's, on to me and all the 40-foot lorries supplying there are giving out stink because there is massive damage being done to them at the minute. They have told the manager of the co-op that the R335 is the worst road they are travelling on in Co Mayo.

Concern

“He [manager] is very concerned because if they stop supplying a very successful business in Louisburgh that jobs could be at stake. We need progress on that road and I need answers for the community on when work will start on that road,” he told the meeting.

Cllr Maxwell added that he was informed that the local motor factors store had reported a 'leap' in business in the last year because of the need for parts of vehicles being damaged by the road.

“It just shows you how bad the road is at the minute and I want answers,” he demanded.

The Louisburgh-based councillor also questioned why roads which he said had previously been maintained by the council were no longer included in the road works programme.

“For years Mayo County Council tarred and maintained these roads and all of a sudden they cannot get done and I want to know why,” he said.