Mayo council officials warned they are dealing with a 'ticking time-bomb'

MAYO County Council officials were warned that there will be 'war' if roads which were previously maintained by the local authority are not taken in charge.

The monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District heard claims from councillors that local roads which they maintain were always looked after by the council are now classified as non-public roads and not the responsibility of the local authority.

Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell warned council officials that they are dealing with a 'ticking timebomb' and there will be war when people living along those roads realise they will no longer be tarred and maintained.

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“We have a ticking time-bomb on our hands with all these roads that had been tarred by councillors or TDs but now they are not on the council list anymore. You cannot get a pot hole filled on them or anything done with them,” he said.

“We need answers to why this has happened because what has happened this year is these roads have been pulled. I have loads of roads back my way and people do not realise that these roads will not be looked after anymore by the council.”

The Independent Ireland councillor said many of the roads had been upgraded under the LIS scheme in recent years but he has been informed that they were never taken in charge afterwards by the council.

“I have been told that they will have to go in again for a LIS scheme. I cannot for the life of me see why they will have to start the process all over again when the council has maintained them for years and years. What has changed and I need an answer as to why it has changed and roads have not been taken in charge.

“Up to now they have been tarred and now that is not happening and people need answers. It is a scandal and not right,” he added.

Not satisfactory

Erris-based councillor Seán Carey also raised the subject saying it was not satisfactory that roads which had previously been tarred were not taken in charge. He called for the council to provide a list of roads which have been taken in charge so people know if their road is included.

In response, Seamus Ó Mongáin, Head of the Municipal District, explained that private roads have to be requested to be taken in charge by the council and they are not automatically taken over even if they are upgraded under the LIS scheme. He added this is not done as a matter of course because some people don't want roads taken in charge by the council.

Mr Ó Mongáin admitted that there may have been some 'legacy' roads which were maintained on an 'ad-hoc' basis but they have a process they now follow. He said that roads they say are taken in charge are drawn down by historic mapping.

Cllr Maxwell said that many of the roads which were maintained are of a good standard and questioned why don't the council 'keep them on the list'. If they are not he warned there will be war over it.

Martin O'Grady, senior engineer with Mayo County Council added that while some roads may have been tarred over the years, it did not automatically mean they are up to a standard to be taken in charge.

Westport councillor Peter Flynn lamented that the days of discretion in the council are now gone and this was leading to frustration among the public.