ONLY ESSENTIAL OUTDOOR WORK CARRIED OUT
The council’s outdoor crews were still stood down as part of COVID-19 restrictions members of Dundalk Municipal District have been reminded.
Senior Engineer Mark Johnston said only essential work was taking place such as basic street cleaning and critical pothole repairs.
He was responding to councillors who asked for more frequency of work.
Cllr Maeve Yore said cycle lanes needed to be cleared weekly rather than monthly.
‘Potholes in Mill Road are actually bunkers. You could lose the car in them they are that big,’ remarked Cllr Seán Kelly.
The local authority was also targeting ‘slip, trip, fall’ areas of footpaths where claims had come in over the years, last week’s monthly meeting heard.
Mr Johnston said everyone would have to bear with the restrictions until 4 May at the earliest.
Cycle lanes were only cleared monthly which was the frequency the council set with contractors.
‘ To do it weekly would cost quite a lot extra and we don’t have the money, unfortunately,’ he explained.
The engineer said the Active Travel funding from the NTA (National Transport Authori
ty) will improve and enhance cycle lanes.
Cllr Kelly remarked people could play golf from 26 April yet there would be no crews out until 4 May.
Cllr Yore said she found it incredulous that Mr Johnston was saying the council will not increase the frequency of clearing cycle lanes.
‘If promoting Active Travel, we have to promote safe cycling routes,’ she added.
The engineer said he would work out the extra cost of weekly clearing and let councillors
know. Monthly was the frequency the council believed was enough.
He pointed out new cycle lanes on the ground were a year away.
Cllr Maria Doyle recalled that in 2012 when the council met a delegation from Stapleton Place opposed to a cycle lane there, the residents pointed out it was all very well to put in a cycle lane, but it must be maintained.
She said she had received so many calls about the general maintenance of cycle lanes.