COUNCIL ADOPT HOUSING ESTATE SPEED BYE-LAWS
INDIVIDUAL BEHIND WHEEL RETAINS OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY
THE County Louth Housing Estates Speed Limit Bye-laws were adopted by councillors at the September meeting of Louth County Council.
Chairman Paul Bell welcomed the introduction of the bye laws saying: ‘ This goes a long way towards allaying the concerns of residents in estates throughout the county.’
He added: ‘But ultimately the responsibility does lie with the person behind the wheel, when they are driving through built up areas.’
Cllr. Marianne Butler also welcomed the scheme, but added ‘It is up to us to fund the implementation of this scheme. There is a huge job of work to be done in our estates.’
Cllr. Oliver Tully said ‘It is a start in the right direction towards slowing people down. For the sake of our children, it really is essential. It is horrific to think that people are coming into estates after dark and driving at high speeds.’
Cllr. Frank Godfrey agreed, adding ‘ There are irresponsible drivers who continue to speed in and out of estates. Signs will be of huge importance.’
He welcomed larger signs being implemented, indicating to drivers to slow down, saying: ‘ The only way is more signage coming in and out of estates warning people to slow down.’
Cllr. Pearse McGeough said he wanted to raise the general issue of speed along rural roads.
‘We are trying to get parents to encourage their children to cycle to school, but parents are living in fear of their children out on bikes because of the speed of cars on rural roads.’
Cllr. Marianne Butler added: ‘It is very important that we follow through on funding for these to be implemented. And it is very important that we make residents aware of these new bye-laws.’
Cllr. Mark Dearey also welcomed the new scheme, but added that it was ‘very important that it be backed up by enforcement.’
He suggested that the issue be raised at meetings of the Joint Policing Committee with gardai.
He agreed that speeding on rural roads was ‘a huge problem,’ adding ‘I get high levels of anxiety about my own children out cycling on the roads.’
Cllr. Dearey said this was ‘ a very strong initiative for us to be introducing just days before the national EU Day without a road death.’
‘I think it is very important that we work towards a stage where pedestrians and cyclists are respected on our roads, and have superior rights.’
Cllr. Jim Tenanty asked when the signage would go up in the three areas of Ardee included.
The council heard the signage scheme is expected to be completed by early December, but that this was just the first phase in the road safety initiative.