Mayo council official critical of local coroner's claims on N5 problems
A director of services with Mayo County Council has reacted to claims by a coroner that those in power are doing little to alleviate problems on the N5 in the county, which has recorded a number of serious collisions.
Tom Gilligan, whose brief includes roads, told members of Ballina Municipal District that in all his time in the local authority, the Coroner for the District of Mayo, Pat O'Connor, had never once written to Mayo County Council outlining concerns in relation to road safety, to his knowledge.
He said he found it 'disappointing' and 'frustrating' when a person did not have the respect to write to the council when it comes to road safety.
“There is a protocol and out of respect, that person should at least write to the council and raise concerns with us,” Mr. Gilligan said.
Adding that he didn't want people to think the council is ignoring the issues, Mr. Gilligan concluded: “I just think it is disrespectful in the way it is being conducted at the moment.”
Councillor Annie May Reape said she agreed that Mr. O'Connor should have contacted the council, and suggested that Ballina MD should contact him to recommend that he do so.
Mr. Gilligan said he would have no problem meeting Mr. O'Connor and speaking to him directly.
The issue arose at the April meeting of Ballina MD after Mr. Gilligan gave an answer to Councillor John O'Hara's notice of motion calling for the up to date position on the health and safety plan that was carried out by road engineers from the roundabout on the Crossmolina Road to Ardagh Church, including all entrances and exits on that section of road.
John Kearns of the Mayo Roads Design Office supplied a written response to the notice of motion, in which he explained the following: “The section of N59 in question was reviewed and eight specific locations were identified with items falling under the TII HD17 Safety Programme. Findings were referred to TII for comment and advice on how best to proceed.
“In the interim, resources were assigned to the N5 route where high rates of accidents and fatalities have been occurring.
“We are shortly returning to the N59 and will be working through the various complexities highlighted by TII in their response to Mayo County Council in January last.
“It is noted that most locations require additional lands and this will be progress via the Municipal District.”
Councillor O'Hara welcomed the update on what he described as one of the worst stretches of road in the area.
Councillor Michael Loftus agreed that it is very difficult for residents along that stretch of the N59 to emerge on to it given the volume and speed of traffic daily.