Narrow escape leads to call for urgent safety measures in Glanworth

Councillor Frank O’Flynn has spoken about a terrifying incident in which he and two members of the media came close to being knocked down by a speeding vehicle.

The incident happened in Glanworth when a large lorry, travelling at high speed, came close to striking the councillor and two staff members from a national newspaper.

Cllr O’Flynn spoke about the incident amid calls at the Fermoy Municipal District meeting on Tuesday, for urgent traffic calming measures in the village.

“There is a serious need here for some way to control the speed of traffic through Glanworth - it is unbelievable. I was standing on the side of the road as a tractor and trailer went up the street, he was absolutely lifting it and then a lorry went too. We came close to being struck by the lorry and the driver gave us the two fingers when we asked him to slow down. A traffic calming scheme is badly needed there - it is crying out for it,” he said.

Cllr O’Flynn had asked in a notice of motion that a ‘soft ramp’ be placed in the area concerned ‘in the interest of safety’.

Brendan O’Gorman, the council engineer, had said in a written response, that there was no finance to carry out such works.

“No funding stream is available currently in the district to advance these requests, but will be kept on file for future consideration. Gardai should be contacted if excessive speed by local commercial drivers is continually observed,” he said.

SUPPORT

Cllr Kay Dawson seconded the motion and said she had been dealing with similar incidents in recent years. She said it was particularly dangerous for elderly people going to the bus stop.

Cllr William O’Leary supported the motion also and said that ‘no doubt safety measures need to be enhanced’. Cllr Deirdre O’Brien, in supporting the motion, said that drivers’ bad behaviour was the main factor, a sentiment that was echoed by Cllr Noel McCarthy.

Cllr Frank Roche supported the motion, but said that it must be a soft ramp as traditional ramps can cause damage to agricultural vehicles.

Council official Mary Hayes said that a village enhancement scheme could be a funding stream. She said she would engage with those designing the project and would have answers by the next monthly meeting.