‘Boy racer rat run’ tormenting local residents in Tipperary ‘at all hours of the night’
Concerns have been raised about a “boy racer rat run” that’s developed in one of Tipperary’s major towns.
The issue was raised at the December meeting of the Clonmel Borough District by Fine Gael councillor John Fitzgerald who said that the situation of speeding on the Coleville Road in Clonmel was dangerous.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Fitzgerald said that residents on the Coleville Road have raised the issue of “severe” speeds on the road with him in recent times.
"The residents have brought to my attention the severe speeds that are taking place on the Coleville Road, in spite of the council’s hard work in trying to deal with this issue over the last few years, which included traffic calming outside Coleville Avenue,” Cllr Fitzgerald said.
“Further down Coleville Road, there seems to be a boy racer rat run taking place there, it’s become a problem. It congregates at Dudley’s Mills gate, and comes back the way towards the Loreto Secondary School,” he explained.
The issue is becoming a “serious problem” according to the Fine Gael councillor, who tabled a motion for the council to install speed ramps on the Raheen Road, but said that he wanted to add a call for measures to be taken on the Coleville Road too.
"It’s becoming a serious problem and I’ve spoken to a number of the residents and I think it’s gone beyond that, it’s dangerous, it’s being used as a way of getting off the Waterford Road, this includes the Raheen Road and the Coleville Road, which is essentially the one road,” he said.
"There’s quite a bit of anxiety there, gardaí have been called on a number of occasions but it’s hard to monitor it,” Cllr Fitzgerald added.
Backing Cllr Fitzgerald’s calls, mayor of Clonmel Pat English said there was an ongoing issue in the town with boy racers.
"There is a rat run around the town and Tesco in town is a gathering area for them,” he said.
"The residents in a number of estates up there are being tormented with the noise at all hours of the night there, so it’s a garda thing, we need to talk to the gardaí.
"I know it’s young lads trying to entertain themselves, but they have to have some respect for people who are living in the areas,” Cllr English added.
In response, the engineer for the district said that speed surveys would be carried out on the Coleville Road in the new year and a plan formulated from there.