NEW ROAD FOR LIS NA DARA DISCUSSED AT COUNCIL MEETING

PLANS for a new road at Carrick Road estate Lis na Dara were highlighted at the June meeting of the Municipal District Committee.

Cllr. Maria Doyle, who is resident in the estate, raised concerns about the road which is due to exit on to Mount Avenue.

She explained that for around three quarters of the year, motorists attempting to drive from Lis Na Dara into town face a major traffic backlog as the Carrick Road is lined with vehicles every morning.

But she admitted concerns about traffic using the new road planned for the estate, which she says will ‘cut the estate in two’ and is routed along an area where there is a creche, and where parents are regularly seen taking children on bicycles. ‘It is an open plan estate, so there are often children out playing on the green,’ added Cllr. Doyle.

She said that residents were becoming incresingly concerned about the new road, which has already been given planning permission and has funding available to construct it.

‘I think people are asking will it be safe for those living there.’ She pointed out that there will be additional noise pollution from traffic travelling along the road to and from the Mount Avenue area.

‘I do think people need to made aware of this, and the details around it,’ said Cllr. Doyle.

Cllr. Mark Dearey said he did agree with the concerns raised about the new road, which he said would be effectively ‘imposing a whole new traffic system on a settled area.’

He urged council officials to look again at the ‘Smarter Travel’ which he said identified the particularly low use of buses for people travelling into and out of the town.

He added that the council should look at different traffic solutions in relation to Lis Na Dara, adding that they should review the Smarter Travel document again ‘especially in relation to straight line journey’s like this at set times of the day each day.’

Senior Executive Officer, Frank Pentony told members that there was a ‘Part 8’ granted under Planning and Development regulations, so councillors were prevented from debating it. But he added that full details are available by accessing the planning file.

He welcomed comments on ‘ Smarter Travel’ but said that a full works programme for Dundalk under that scheme was costed at €40million, and funds were not made available to complete it.