Concerns raised over traffic safety and appearance of Limerick town

CONCERNS over traffic safety and the general appearance of Dromcollogher were raised by several councillors at the January meeting of the Newcastle West Municipal District.
Cllr Jerome Scanlon called for the installation of pedestrian crossings at what he described as the three main “pinch points” around the town square, saying traffic calming measures were urgently needed to improve safety for pedestrians.
Cllr Micheál Collins said he felt Dromcollogher had been neglected in recent years, adding that during a recent visit he found the town looking run down.
He noted that with the 100-year commemorations of the cinema fire disaster approaching, the town would need significant support to prepare, both in terms of safety and presentation.
He also highlighted the volume of traffic passing through the town daily, particularly heavy vehicles and school buses.
Limerick City and County Council senior executive engineer Ben Noonan was asked to carry out an assessment of the town to identify what infrastructure could be put in place to improve safety and the overall appearance.

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Cllr Liam Galvin reminded the meeting that a detailed public realm plan for Dromcollogher had previously been drawn up but never implemented.
Cllr Collins responded that the plan had never been brought back to the council for approval, a claim disputed by Cllr Galvin, who said it had been paused due to concerns over the potential loss of parking spaces.
Cllr Scanlon suggested that the council should revisit the plan, while Cllr John Sheahan cautioned against going too far, warning that “less is more” when it comes to changes in small country towns.

-Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme