Townley Hall road needs urgent works
POTHOLES, crumbling roads and flooding are just some of the treacherous road conditions that rural dwellers countrywide are faced with on a daily basis.
According to Declan Power, Fianna Fáil candidate for Drogheda rural – “It’s unfortunate that rural residents are often the forgotten people all over the Country when it comes to road safety and maintenance.
“I took time out over the weekend to visit a road in Tullyallen, a beautiful rural area of Co. Louth, outside Drogheda, to a road called Townley Hall Golf Road. This “road” is an absolute disgrace and looks like a mine field. The road is covered with potholes, is prone to flooding and is just crumbling to bits,” said Declan.
Local resident Red Mc Grath explains, “This road has been like this for years and we have been completely over looked by Louth County Council and County Councillors. We have 13 houses on this road with an average of four people per household. Most residents have had problems with their cars. I have replaced four tyres over the last two years. District nurses designated for looking after some of our local residents have refused to come down the road, resulting in the residents having to make their own way the Lourdes Hospital or busy health clinics. An ambulance found it extremely difficult to get through the road last year which could have resulted in a life or death situation. Family and friends find it difficult to visit us due to the condition of the road.”
“I was invited into the home of another resident on the Golf Road and met a lovely lady called Margaret Healy. Margaret is an MS suffer and is wheelchair bound. While she also has a mobility scooter, she unfortunately can’t get out due to the road being a health and safety hazard and feels ‘ trapped’ in her own home. The mobility scooter is actually parked in the living room behind a chair. Even the simplistic notion of getting out for fresh air or to call to a neighbour is impossible,’ said Declan.
“I am appealing to Louth Co. Council to act immediately and deal with this serious road issue that is a serious breach of health and safety that will ultimately improve the lives of the local residents. The residents have been patient up to now but are growing more frustrated by the day.