85% of cars found speeding through Letterkenny estate
Residents in a Letterkenny estate are demanding urgent traffic calming after figures showed 85% of vehicles were speeding past family homes.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle called for measures to be installed in the Ashfield estate at Carnamuggagh “without further delay” due to fears for the safety of children living there.
The estate has more than 100 homes along one straight road with no ramps to slow vehicles.
Speed-monitoring cameras have also been installed to gather evidence.
“Eighty-five per cent of the vehicles are over the optimum speed limit. I think that says it all,” Cllr McMonagle said.
Cllr McMonagle said residents had carried out their own survey, with 98% supporting the installation of ramps or other traffic-calming measures.
He urged the council’s roads section to find funding for the work.
“When residents are looking for safety measures for their estates, towns and villages, those concerns are real. We have the evidence to support that,” he said.
“God forbid if a child gets knocked down. It is too late to get ramps in then.”
Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh supported the motion and said the danger was heightened during the summer months when children were outside more often.
“It is well established that there is a problem there,” he said.
"It is more dangerous now in the summertime, with the children off school.”
Donegal County Council confirmed that a speed assessment had been completed and established that traffic-calming measures would be appropriate.
Options including chicanes and raised tables are being considered, but there is currently no funding available to carry out the works.
Councillors were told that the area was assessed and the need for measures has been established, with council staff set to continue to examine possible funding opportunities.
Cllr McMonagle acknowledged the pressure on the roads department but said the evidence justified urgent action.
“On days like today, children are on the streets and green areas,” he said.
“If money can be found between now and the next meeting, when the evidence is there, we should spend it.”
This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.