Concerns raised about potential impact on several Ballymote residents by proposed link road
A PROPOSED link road has raised anger in two Ballymote estates claims a former Councillor.
Keith Henry, who is hoping to be elected back into Sligo County Council later this year, says the residents of Castleburn and Earls Court housing estates have been left infuriated by the plan.
The road itself proposes to connect up with the Primary Care Health Centre. However, 80 houses could be affected by work on this route if the proposal gets the green light.Henry states that the plan has serious road safety implications for residents who themselves claim they were not consulted by the planners.
“There is a proposal for a link road to facilitated in the plan from the Sligo road through Castleburn and Earls Court Housing estates connecting to the Primary Care Health Centre,” said Henry – who himself is from Ballymote.
“Before Christmas I visited both estates to inform them of such a drastic proposal affecting their estates.
“To say they were angry is an understatement – mainly because no one had consulted with them until I had informed them of the proposal and how to submit objections.
“The proposal is ludicrous and would have serious road safety implications for both estates which are fully occupied many with young families. The proposed route runs along two green areas where children can be seen playing every day.
“I have objected to the proposal and from looking at the online portal of those submissions uploaded so far, it has the highest number of observations of any proposal in the county showing the seriousness of the issue locally.
“There are far more appropriate routes that are possible to get from the Sligo road to the health centre that would not impact on any housing estate.
“It was clearly expressed to me on my visit to both estates and over the Christmas that the lack of consultation by any official or elected representative of the Council really angered the residents.
“I really hope that this indicate road link is removed from the plan. However, the whole affair highlights the need for a watchful and local based representative on the council and hopefully after June’s election I will be able to do just that once again.” Both Sligo County Council and the Department of Transport have been approached for comment.