Four-year delay in erection of signage on Sligo road was down to issue being overlooked by council

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Four years after placenames and signage were agreed upon for the Western Distributor Road, Cllr Declan Bree has this week queried the delay in having them erected.

In a motion before the November meeting of Sligo County Council, Cllr Bree asked for reasons as to why the signage has not yet been put in place.

Addressing the Council, Cllr Bree said, “In May 2021, this Council considered placenames and signage for the Western Distributor Road.

Following an exceptional submission from local historian, Dr Fiona Gallagher, which provided us with a wealth of historical information in respect of naming sections of the new road, we unanimously adopted a recommendation from the Placenames Committee.

"We agreed to name the first section of the road from Ballydoogan to the new roundabout as Derrydarragh Line, retaining the original placename. We decided that the second section of the road from the roundabout to the Caltragh interchange be called Knockatoofil Line, reflecting the visually and historically important Knockatoofil hill, the highest point between Knocknarea to the west and Cairns Hill to the east.

"It is now November 2024, three-and-a- half years since that decision was made and the signage has not yet been erected.”

In reply to Cllr Bree’s query the meeting was told by Emer Concannon, Director of Services, “It fell between two stools, between the Heritage and the Roads (department). It is now back on the agenda from both the heritage side and the road side. It is on the work programme now and will be pursued”

When asked if there was a danger of it falling between two stools again, Ms Concannon answered, “No, the signage has been designed by the Heritage section and will be implemented by the Roads section.” Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.