Visitors not aware of local salutes on tight West Clare road where cow poo has damaged surface

LOCAL SALUTES are in operation for motorists to navigate their way through Ross Bay but this understanding is lost on visitors resulting in “a massive problem,” a West Clare representative has flagged.

Addition of pull in spaces and appropriate traffic signs on the L2000 at Ross Bay “to manage the traffic along this very narrow section of busy road,” was requested by Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) at this month’s sitting of the West Clare Municipal District.

Senior executive engineer, Alan Kennelly in response said he would discuss the proposal with the “local roads overseer and I hope that we will be able to put in place the works required”.

Cow dung was previously attributed with damaging the road surface further along the L2000 with Kennelly in November remarking, “While it is understood that cows need feeding and milking it is a fact that cows leave dung deposits in their wake. An unfortunate consequence is that if this cow dung is not removed from the road, over time, chemicals in the dung affect the road surface and accelerate its breakdown”.

Other issues are now irking locals, Cllr Murphy stated, “This is one of those roads where locals are getting increasingly frustrated with the amount of visitors through the place”. He added, “Locals have salute to get past each other but it is a massive problem for others trying to get through”.

He noted that the cow dung had led to a “terrible” road condition with the solution of getting the cattle off the road acknowledged locally. The Kilkee representative felt the provision of extra space and signage would form the solution for the current stumbling block.

Extreme weather conditions have provided difficulties but also opportunities in the area, Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) highlighted. “There was a time when there was no lay by, then we had a storm, the next time we have a storm, there will be an opportunity to make another lay by, it gives people a chance to look out and see the scenery”.