Wexford council chair opposes Gorey traffic plan after conducting his own survey

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

The chair of Wexford County Council (WCC) has conducted an unofficial survey on the traffic flow in the centre of Gorey following proposals to make a busy junction left-hand turn only. Stating that he is “totally opposed” to the plan to make Church Street left-hand turn only, Councillor Joe Sullivan has backed up his stance with a detailed analysis, including estimated increases in traffic flow, which he has submitted to the council’s roads department.

“I have worked and have had daily interaction with traffic in the town for 40 years; 28 as a member of An Garda Siochana and 12 as a local elected representative and, in all those years, I have never heard anybody suggest this proposed measure (making Church St left-hand only),” said Cllr Sullivan. “However, now it is seen as the cure of all ills as pertains to traffic flow and road safety in Gorey town.”

Setting out to prove that this measure would not improve traffic flow in Gorey and would, in fact, make it worse, the Fianna Fáil councillor conducted his own survey over the space of four days in late March and early April.

During one-hour intervals he found that 589 of 824 vehicles turned right at Church St, representing 71 pc of all traffic. And the councillor believes there’s a reason why the majority of motorists currently choose to turn right at this two-way junction.

“By turning left you have to go up Main Street, turn right onto John Street across traffic and turn right at the four-cross road junction to proceed onto Pearse Street,” he said. “From there you turn right to come onto Rafter Street to join the Main Street once again, to go north or alternatively, to go down Eire Street which is already chaotic.

“Having driven the proposed new route it takes approximately four minutes longer (than turning right) at the moment. I am satisfied, based on the above percentage, this will increrase to upwards of six minutes”

While creating additional traffic is one issue, Cllr Sullivan contends that the proposed new measures would lead to safety issues in the town and make life more dangerous for motorists and pedestrians alike.

“Over the past 40 years, between the exit from Eire St onto Arklow Road and Gorey District Hospital at McCurtain Street, seven people have lost their lives in traffic incidents,” he said. “As far as I can recall and I am open to correction, only one driver was prosecuted and found to be at fault for the unfortunate incidents.

“The statistics will support my assertion that the proposed change of traffic flow from Church Street will make no contribution to safety whatsoever, indeed, I believe it will frustrate drivers no end and cause incidents of road rage in an already traffic congested town.”

Reluctant to simply pick holes in the council’s plans, Cllr Sullivan proposed a number of alternative measures which could be carried out in place of this proposal. Asking that WCC commission a new traffic plan for Gorey, he requested that a “raised crossing and flashing yellow balls” be installed where the existing pedestrian lights are in the town centre, that.new traffic lights and raised crossings at the junction of Church Street be installed, and that WCC introduce parking in the direction of traffic flow as a standard safety regulation in Gorey.