Mayo council won't be getting a road line painter

MAYO County Council looks unlikely to become the first local authority in the country - or indeed the UK - to get its own line painter.

Ballina Councillor Mark Duffy had asked that a vehicle be purchased to allow the council to internally manage painting requirements that are urgently needed around the county.

He was told the vehicle was only part of a team required for such works, with most contractors using two other service vehicles and a staff of five, while quads were also used occasionally for traffic control.

All in, the cost of providing such a team of vehicles would be more than €500,000.

The council, he was told, was not aware of any such team operating in another local authority either in Ireland or the UK.

Also, Mayo County Council would not have enough work to employ a team full-time, and so specialist contractors were employed for line painting.

Councillor Duffy was 'disappointed' with the reply, saying basic line painting jobs are not being completed.

The lack of markings on roads or in car parks created accessibility and safety issues, with cars blocking accesses, and places looking dishevelled and unorganised from a parking point of view.

He requested a report on what their costs are for line painting.

Councillor John O'Hara agreed there are locations where people can get into a muddle as they don't know where the middle of the road is.