Move agreed to declare Blackrock lane a public road

Moves are afoot to have Kearney’s Lane in Blackrock declared a public road.

Chairperson Maria Doyle proposed a motion to that effect, pointing out the location is off the main street, beside the home bakery; and at the rear of the lane is a public right-of-way that is used regularly.

She added it is a reserved function of the council to declare a road public; and it should have been a public road from day one.

Residents want the council to take it over.

As far as the chairperson is aware, there is no owner of the lane.

Lending his support to the motion, Cllr Declan Breathnach said this is one of a large number of small roads in the county in a terrible state of repair, which is not the fault of the residents living on them.

Cllr Peter Savage interjected to say he has been waiting for a list of similar roads in Carlingford and Omeath for five years.

In a written reply to the motion, the council outlined a number of reasons why it does not propose to declare Kearney’s Lane a public road, including lack of funding.

Also, the lane is not an estate for the purposes of the planning and development act 2000.

It could also create a liability for the local authority. The lane is very narrow, in poor condition and services a small number of houses.

There is no footpath and some houses open directly onto the laneway.

It was also pointed out there are many similar roads/laneways in the county which are not public roads and have not been taken in charge by the council.

However, it was remarked to the meeting by director of service, Frank Pentony that it had been left out of the reply that there is a procedure, including advertising, which has to be followed, before the matter comes back to the council as a reserved function.

It was agreed to amend the motion to start this process.