Residents call for one way system in Collooney
A petition signed by hundreds of Collooney residents and shop owners seeking a one way system in the town has been handed into Sligo County Council.
A motion seeking the new traffic system was brought to the recent monthly meeting of the Council by Sinn Fein councillor Thomas Healy.
Speaking to The Sligo Champion, Cllr Healy said there had been positive feedback from his consultation with the community and it was outlined to the councillor that l ack of parking and damage to vehicles were major is sues at present.
“Before I put it in as a motion I met with shop owners and residents on the main street and outlined the one way system, the advantages and disadvantages of it.
“I got agreement from the majorit y of people there that it was the good way to go,” he explained.
Chairs of all l ocal residents’ committees then came together and collected signatures in favour of the traffic proposal.
“We got a couple of hundred signatures from people stating they’d be in favour of a motion.”
Now Sligo County Council will l ook at having an official public consultation in 2019.
“I’ ve asked the Council that maybe next year we hold a weekend where we close off the road and tr y the traffic going one way and then maybe tr y it the other way,” said the councillor.
Shopkeepers indicated to the councillor that the current traffic system resulted in a l ack of parking being available.
“The roads are ver y narrow and if you meet any big bus or l orr y it’s chock-ablock, the whole road is blocked up. What we’re tr ying to do is have a one way system so there’s more places to park and it’ll address a l ot of issues there.”
Another issue that is hoped will be solved by a change of traffic flow is damage to vehicles.
Cllr Healy said residents can come out in the morning to see their cars ‘destroyed’ with scratches, broken door handles and wing mirrors.
“It’ll address that issue but it will also open up Collooney better as a one way system. You’ll be doing a l oop of the town if it went one way, it makes a lot of sense. This is only the fir st step of the process but it is the important step,” he concluded.