‘Loaves and fishes’ roads programme

WEXFORD County Council has almost completed its roads improvement schemes for this year in the Gorey District, the local councillors were told last week.

The works have extended to areas such as Craanford, Boolavogue, Courtown, Monamolin, Monaseed, and Gorey, with the resurfacing of the Avenue remaining to be done.

Neville Shaw also told the meeting that work on the inner relief road link should be finished in four weeks time. Footpath replacement at Middletown Valley is also continuing.

Work is expected to begin shortly on a footpath and new public lighting in Killenagh which will join the two pubs. This work will be carried out by the local voluntary group and the council. A new footpath is also going in on the Ballytegan road in Gorey as part of a 25 house development.

Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin complimented the engineer and the roads department on all the new footpaths, and for making the roads safer. He asked for a new footpath from the Kilnahue Lane junction and P&H Doyle on the Carnew Road to be a priority.

Mr Shaw said they have overspent on this year’s budget, so there’s very little that can be done before the end of the year, but agreed it is a priority for next year.

Cllr Ó Súilleabháin asked him about safety measures at Willow Park and was told the Council is doing what it can this year, including line painting at crossings, and fencing.

Cllr Anthony Donohoe was worried about open concrete drains in Coolgreany and Hollyfort, saying they are a health and safety issue, and wondered if steel grids could be put over them. Mr Shaw said they have been there for many years, and said that during the resurfacing works in Hollyfort, that railings were suggested, and locals weren’t in favour. ‘We could look at it again,’ he said.

Cllr Malcolm Byrne said that ‘a real loaves and fishes’ had been achieved in this year’s roads programme, agreeing that the footpath on the Carnew Road from the Kilnahue Lane needs to be a priority. He added that proposals by Virgin to lay broadband cables in Gorey might be the ideal time to put in new footpaths where they are needed.

Cllr Robbie Ireton called for more lighting n Park Avenue as ‘it’s very dark.’ He was also delighted the footpaths in Courtown are nearly finished. ‘A phenomenal amount of work was done with the resources we have,’ he said. Cllr Pip Breen agreed that ‘phenomenal work’ has been done.