Councillors criticise Direct Route for not lifting toll during flood

Fermoy councillors are to write to motorway toll operators Direct Route to determine why they did not lift the toll gates during the recent flood event in the town.

The decision came as Fine Gael councillors Kay Dawson and Noel McCarthy moved a joint motion at the Fermoy Municipal District meeting for a new Traffic Management Committee. The local representatives told the meeting that it would be a solution to deal with future flood events that would close Kent

Bridge.

They suggested that the committee should comprise of gardai, motorway staff and other local ‘stakeholders’.

Pauline Moriarty, Municipal District Officer, said that the operation of the flood defences forms part of Cork County Council’s

Major Emergency Planning exercise and is an executive function with set plans and protocols.

“These protocols are reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. The establishment of any such proposed committee would be inappropriate,” she added.

Cllr McCarthy said that it was not correct that when Kent Bridge closed during the flood, that motorists were forced to pay the toll to find an alternative route around the town.

He also spoke of the pedestrians who found themselves trapped on one side of the town without a way to get back across.

Cllr McCarthy said there should be ‘ some sort of vehicle’ to carry people across.

The most frustration was with Direct Route who, councillors said, should have raised the toll gates to permit people to travel through free of charge during the crisis.

All councillors backed the calls, with Cllr Frank Roche stating that toll booth was causing significant congestion as it is and that the toll should be removed.

FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS

Brendan O’Gorman, Council Engineer said that there had been a bridge closure in 2015 and that the elected members then requested Direct Route to lift the barriers.

He said that the motorway company refused and say that they were ‘responsible to a board of directors’ and that they could not afford to adopt the approach.

Mr O’Gorman also explained that only gardai had the authority to request that the toll booths be raised.

He said he understood the spirit of the motion and explained the timeline of events, which included contact with Direct Route, to councillors. He said that there were financial ramifications for the Council if they opened the toll booths.

Mr O’Gorman explained that early on Tuesday morning, he and other engineers at Fermoy Municipal District became aware that a major flooding event was to take place, hitting the town on Wednesday morning.

He said he went to the garda station and spoke to the duty sergeant, he spoke to Direct Route and also Lagan as well as senior management in Cork County Council as they enacted the flooding protocols.

“The bridge was closed for twelve hours. There will be disruptions, the motorway is an option. If people decide to cause backlogs because of refusing to pay €1.90 there is very little we can do.

“There are lessons to be learned. There was very open communication with Garda authorities and Direct Route and all were very aware. A traffic sub committee is not appropriate.

“Like any event (we will) always be learning, on a learning curve with all events,” he explained.

Cllr Frank O’Flynn proposed that the Municipal District would write to Direct Route to get an up to date understanding of their views. All councillors agreed with this proposal.

The issue will be revisited when a response is received from the motorway operators.