Some 174 estates to get new speed signs

A total of 174 housing estates in the county will be getting new speed signs to reflect the change to the new 30kph limits, the meeting was told.

Senior Executive Engineer, Tom Brennan said it was the council’s intention to put up new slow zone signs if there was space for the them in estates.

There were 174 estates in the county which the council had charge of and some 57 of those were in the Ballymote/Tubbercurry area.

He said the erection of the new signs would take some time. Mr Brennan agreed with concerns that enforcement would be an issue.

He said no one could expect the Gardaí to patrol estates on a regular basis to enforce the speed limits.

He added that modern designed estates had other measures in place as well to slow traffic such as calming measures.

Mr Brennan revealed how there was a review of speed limits at present in the county and there were a number of proposed changes mooted.

These included changing the limit in Castlebalwin village from 50kph to 60kph and reducing the 100kph zone to 80kph from Casltebaldwin to Cloonamahon.

It was also proposed to alter the limit to 80kph from Cloonacurra, Ballinacarrow to Curry from the present 100kph.

Ballisodare to Beltra was planned to go to 80kph and at Dromard Community Centre to become a 60kph zone. The proposed changes would be published in a matter of weeks.

Cllr Michael Clarke voiced concern about speeding traffic in Templeboy while Cllr Martin baker said he was opposed to the increasing of the limit in Castlebaldwin saying there were a number of dangerous junctions there.

Cllr Keith Henry said that with regard to estate limits it would really come down to enforcement.