Members of the community in Cordal are concerned at the increase of traffic on the roads through their neighbourhood in recent times.
The increase in traffic is one thing but the speed at which much of that extra traffic zips through the narrow roads is what’s causing most of the anger and anxiety.
An impromptu gathering of locals met Kerry County Councillors, Charlie Farrelly and Fionnán Fitzgerald outside Tobar Na bFionn Cemetery on Wednesday evening at 6:30pm.
A Stream of Traffic
For most of the previous half hour a constant stream of traffic flowed through from Munster Joinery in Knocknagree in the Castleisland direction.
The increase in traffic there is, ironically, due to the improvement of the road surfaces in the area in conjunction with the construction of the windfarms on the surrounding hills.
Also on Wednesday Kerry County Council moved a 50 kilometre sign on the L2032 in Cordal from beyond Tobair Na Bhfionn Cemetery 300 metres in towards Cordal church.
Amounted to Maddness
This, Cllr. Farrelly, Independent and Cllr. Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil heard, amounted to madness as the removal of the speed limit sign didn’t consider the crowds generated by funerals, church services or even the frequent visitors to the roadside recycling bins outside the wall of the cemetery.
“About six weeks ago Kerry County Council got the word SLOW painted on the road where the 50 kilometre sign was set for years.
Encouraging Speed
This now has had the effect of encouraging the traffic there to go faster,” said the councillors in agreement – while Cllr. Farrelly said he has called on Kerry County Council today to reinstate the 50 kilometre sign back to its original site.
KCC’s Bad Week in Cordal
Kerry County Council has had a bad week in the Cordal area overall. On the road in front of Kilmurry National School a STOP sign was set in concrete at a junction there years ago.
It was doing what it was intended to do.
But now, just 14 feet away and in front of it and in complete contradiction, an 80 kilometre per hour signpost has also been set in concrete yesterday.
“We can only hope that this was an oversight by someone – but even so it could now take a year to have it taken away and placed at a more appropriate location in the area,” said Cllr. Fitzgerald.
Cllr. Healy Rae – From a Distance
From a distance, Cllr. Jackie Healy Rae was brought into the problems of the locality by a barrage of angry telephone calls.
“Over the last number of hours I have been contacted by numerous people in relation to their outrage at a recent speed limit change in Cordal,” said Cllr. Healy Rae.
Speed Zone Shortened
“Always when passing the bridge at Cois Abhainn, Cordal coming over by the graveyard the speed limit was 50 kilometre per hour.
“But over the last day or so, that very speed limit zone has been made shorter and moved in closer to Kearney’s shop.
Submission to KCC
“This in my opinion and in the opinion of the residents living on the road is totally outrageous and unacceptable.
“When canvassing that very road in January of this year, at almost every door, the speed limits were mentioned and I myself made a submission to Kerry County Council for the speed zone to be extended back up the hill and now instead it has been made much shorter.
A Serious Safety Issue
“There is a serious safety issue now at hand. The speed limit passing the graveyard is now 80 kilometre per hour and this is outrageous.
“The road is used by walkers, cyclists both young and old, now I am being told they will be too afraid to take to the road as it will be simply too dangerous as the speed limit is too high.
“I am relaying these concerns also to Kerry County Council in the hope that this move can be reversed before a serious accident happens there,” said Cllr. Healy Rae.
