*Photograph: Arthur Ellis.ย
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 โcommitment of resources and a timeline to progress a traffic management solution at the Square in Milltown Malbay,โ were made by Talty. He cited a reply to a notice of motion in September 2022, โwe were told designs were to progress in the following months but (we have) no evidence of anything having been doneโ.
In March of this year, engineers within the transportation section of Clare County Council held a site meeting with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) โregarding safety improvements at the junction,โ senior executive engineer Anne OโSullivan stated. โA 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 Manualโ.
She said an application was made in June for Active Travel funding โto progress a project to deliver improved pedestrian and cyclist facilities at this junction which would incorporate improved traffic management at this locationโ.
Pace on the project has been a stagnant for a decade, Cllr Slattery remarked. โThis 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 isnโt that they werenโt there but they werenโt considered as importantโ. He added, โIt isnโt as controversial as Blakeโs Corner but it is a big issueโ.
โIt is going on too long,โ 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. โIf 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 happeningโ.
According to the postmaster, reference to an Active Travel application โis a red flag for me if weโre looking for Active Travel for Miltown Malbay. Active Travel will not come beyond Ennis or Shannon from what weโve seen, that to me is a fob offโ.
Both Cllr Michael Shannon (FF) and Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) seconded the proposals with Killeen pointing out, โthe big question is who has right of way and who is going to giveโ which prompted Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) to reply, โit is just a nod and a wink at the momentโ.
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.
