Speed limit to be reduced in only Wexford village on a national road – ‘It is terrifying to see the volume of traffic passing through there’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

The speed limit in the only village in Wexford on a national road looks set to be reduced to 60kmh following representations from local councillors and officials. With works on the notorious Leeches Bend now under way, thoughts have turned to further improving safety for those living in, and travelling through, the village of Clonroche.

At the November meeting of Wexford County Council (WCC) Fianna Fáil councillor John Fleming said reducing the speed limit on the N30 in Clonroche was “just common sense”.

“The current limit there is 80kmh but there’s lorries and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) passing through every day, it needs to be brought down to 60kmh,” he said.

Councillor Bridín Murphy had some further information on this issue.

“Clonroche is to be included in a special speed limit review but my concern is we have to have the agreement of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to reduce any speed limit there,” she said. “I suspect they won’t agree to any reduction on a national road. I’m going to ask that we give consideration to a full safety audit in the village. If you’re standing at the school it is terrifying to see the volume of traffic passing there.”

However, Cllr Murphy’s concerns were allayed by director of roads Eamonn Hore.

“I believe TII will give us a special speed limit in Clonroche,” he said. “We have already designed a full scheme for the village that we’d like to see implemented but that would be really costly.”

Mr Hore also confirmed that, at this point, a full safety audit in Clonroche was “justified”.