*Photograph: Arthur Ellis.
FRUSTRATION has been voiced with the lack of progress made on the implementation of traffic management solutions in Miltown Malbay.
Separate proposals were tabled by Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) and Cllr Shane Talty (FF) at the July sitting of the West Clare Municipal District.
Slattery called on Clare County Council to design a new traffic management plan in Miltown Malbay and suggested a roundabout at the square.
Efforts to secure a “commitment of resources and a timeline to progress a traffic management solution at the Square in Milltown Malbay,” were made by Talty. He cited a reply to a notice of motion in September 2022, “we were told designs were to progress in the following months but (we have) no evidence of anything having been done”.
In March of this year, engineers within the transportation section of Clare County Council held a site meeting with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) “regarding safety improvements at the junction,” senior executive engineer Anne O’Sullivan stated. “A topographical survey is scheduled for July and this will allow for the update of the existing concept design to incorporate pedestrian and cyclist facilities in line with the new Cycling Design Manual”.
She said an application was made in June for Active Travel funding “to progress a project to deliver improved pedestrian and cyclist facilities at this junction which would incorporate improved traffic management at this location”.
Pace on the project has been a stagnant for a decade, Cllr Slattery remarked. “This has been repetitive for ten years, I remember being at meeting with Cllr Curtin and Cllr Hillery when this was brought up, the only difference now is cyclists are included, it isn’t that they weren’t there but they weren’t considered as important”. He added, “It isn’t as controversial as Blake’s Corner but it is a big issue”.
“It is going on too long,” stated Cllr Talty who felt the situation highlighted a flaw in local democracy given that a motion on the subject was passed in September 2022 but little to no progress has been evident. “If we propose and adopt something then it is out of our hands and it is to be delivered, the answer says there was a site meeting in March 2024 which is nineteen months on from the motion, it is not credible for us as elected represenatives for us to meet people and say there is nothing happening”.
According to the postmaster, reference to an Active Travel application “is a red flag for me if we’re looking for Active Travel for Miltown Malbay. Active Travel will not come beyond Ennis or Shannon from what we’ve seen, that to me is a fob off”.
Both Cllr Michael Shannon (FF) and Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) seconded the proposals with Killeen pointing out, “the big question is who has right of way and who is going to give” which prompted Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) to reply, “it is just a nod and a wink at the moment”.
Senior engineer Tony Neville told the meeting they would follow up with their colleagues to see if surveys have been done and revert back to councillors.
