Lack of progress on road safety in Collooney described as ‘scandalous’

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

There were heated exchanges when road safety concerns in Collooney were raised at the September meeting of Municipal District Sligo-Drumcliff with the lack of progress in relation to concerns on the Knockbeg Rd, described by Cllr Thomas Walsh as “scandalous.”

In his motion before the meeting Cllr Walsh called for Sligo County Council “to urgently address the serious safety concerns on the Knockbeg Road, Collooney between the town centre and the N17, the overgrowth on existing paths, lack of public lighting, covered existing public lighting, lack of safe pedestrian access and lack of speed control infrastructure.”

Addressing the meeting Cllr Walsh said children were walking on the road as they made their way to and from school and that the local authority have been “talking in riddles for seven or eight years.”

Cllr Walsh said the footpaths aren’t even one metre wide. “You are continuing to give development in the area but there is no improvement in infrastructure.

"If someone gets hurt, the council is at fault.”

Cllr Thomas Healy also expressed his anger at the situation. “I asked Sligo County Council to investigate the other side of the road and keep us informed. Not one thing has been done.

"This goes to show the level of respect they have when there is no Director of Services here. Before next month’s meeting I want to know what progress has been made.”