'Whole village approach to traffic calming' needed for Killucan

With five roads converging on Killucan, local councillors insist that a whole village approach to traffic calming is a must.

Cllrs David Jones, Niall Gaffney, Emily Wallace and Denis Leonard presented a united front in pushing the issue at the February meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, and they were told that the council has applied for low-cost safety works in the area.

Cllr Jones called for an assessment of the junction from Killucan to Rathwire and the installation of footpaths and traffic calming measures to make it safer for all. He said he met local residents there, and saw how dangerous it was. It is used as a "rat run" and speed limits won’t make any difference if they are not enforced, he said.

"We need to do something before someone is killed," Cllr Jones said. He called for a meeting, on site, of residents, councillors and council officials.

Cllr Wallace said: "We are talking about a population of more than 1,600 people."

This is a busy village and there is heavy agricultural activity, she said. She agreed that a whole village approach was needed, but that the junction from Killucan to Rathwire was particularly urgent: "I do not know how someone hasn’t been killed," she said.

Cllr Leonard backed the whole village approach, including double yellow lines, pedestrian crossings, signage and safety works at dangerous junctions on the five approach roads, particularly at Columba College, the Roselodge area, Rathwire NS, Killucan GAA and the village centre.

Cllr Leonard said drivers are "flying in" from five sides to Killucan. "It needs comprehensive traffic calming solutions that don’t move the problem up the road," he said.

Cllr Gaffney pointed out that there was all-party support on the issue. "It’s not just one road, it’s speed on all the roads," he said. In response, the district engineer, Pat Kavanagh, agreed that a number of issues need to be addressed in Killucan.

He is optimistic that funding for low-cost safety works will be forthcoming this year. "It certainly met the criteria, and I will be disappointed if it is not approved," he said.

Mr Kavanagh said that Columba College will be lodging a planning application for a development which will help, because it will provide for bus parking and an entrance off the regional road rather than the local road.

He would envisage a tightening up of the junctions coming into the village. He remarked that it would be necessary to speak to businesspeople before installing double yellow lines as they would affect business.

Mr Kavanagh said he had no difficulty meeting councillors and members of the local community on site.