'Astronomical speeds' in rural area slammed

A member of Athlone Moate Municipal District has claimed that cars are travelling at “astronomical speeds” through a rural area on the outskirts of Ballynacargy and has asked for a speed survey to be carried out as a matter of urgency.

Cllr Johnnie Penrose made the speeding claims at the October municipal meeting and pleaded with the council to “take any action that's possible” to deter speeding in the Ballysallagh townsland in Ballynacargy.

Noting the written response from the Council to his motion, which stated that the District Engineer would arrange for a speed survey to be carried out at Ballysallagh and that funding for any measures considered appropriate would form part of the 2023 Transportation Programme, Cllr Penrose said this would “still not be a deterrent for speeding” in the area.

Anyything that can be done to deter speeding should be done” said Cllr Penrose, who told the meeting that the area in question is very built up and the speed of traffic is “proving a huge danger” to the people who live and travel through the Ballysallagh area. He also pointed out that there is a national school in the area where a large majority of the children “are walking through and from school every day.”

Cllr Penrose was told by District Engineer, Denis Sloyan, that the council would arrange to carry out a speed survey and report the findings back to a future meeting.