Speed at Farnaught is “outrageous”

Cllr Sean McGowan asked that Darragh O’Boyle District Engineer, have discussions with the Gardaí with a view to placing a 50km/h speed limit on local road L-5613-2 from Lough Rinn Estate and L-5612-0 at Farnaught, onto where they join the Tooman/Drumlish Road.
At the recent meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District, Cllr McGowan said there are a number of families living along this section of road with small children and they are concerned for their safety. “I would also ask that signage be erected to advise motorists of this change,” he said.
Cllr McGowan said the section of the road he was referring to is “less than a mile long and there are a number of families living along there and young children and they are concerned about the speed at which vehicles are going.
“Seemingly, people coming from weddings in Lough Rynn coming from Drumlish are being directed down that road by Google Maps.”
A report by the Roads office said there is currently a national review on all speed limits and that once this review is completed, it can assess the current speed limit regime.
“At that point, Leitrim County Council will produce a review of speed limits for approval by the elected members. Leitrim County Council will liaise with the Gardaí on our proposed speed limit review prior to presenting to the members for approval,” the response concluded.
Cllr McGowan continued that residents want the speed “brought down to 50km/h and that adequate signage be provided. I saw it when I was out knocking at doors the other day; people flying by with no regard for anyone whatsoever; they (residents) are looking for a ramp or something to slow people down.”
Cllr Thomas Mulligan supported the motion saying that “it is a matter of great concern to those living on the local road and we also have a considerable investment in that section of road developing the Farnaught Lime Kiln as a tourist attraction and grant aided the old dispensary.”
Cllr Enda Stenson, who chaired the meeting, also supported the motion as did Cllr Des Guckian who said that while some signage was erected, “massive, outrageous speed is still a problem” and said that Google Maps is directing traffic towards the route which is “not the major entrance at all.”
He said that what was needed was “more signage but also enforcement.”
Cllr Paddy Farrell noted that already this year, 71 people have been killed on the country's roads and said that “something urgent needs to be done with the speeding situation.”
Justin Fannon, Acting Director of Services, Leitrim County Council, said that speed limits on national secondary roads will go from 100km/h to 80km/h; on local rural roads, from 80km/h to 60km/h; and on roads in urban areas from 50km/h to 30km/h.
He continued that there is a “large programme of works to replace all the signage especially when coming to a junction indicating you are going from a local road onto a regional road.”
Both Cllr Farrell and Cllr McGowan said they felt the speed limit on the road needs to be lowered to 50/km/h with Cllr McGowan asking that the council “consider putting a ramp on it or table top to slow down traffic coming out of Rinn Avenue and just at the start. I'd also put 'Children at Play' signs there,” he suggested.
Cllr Mulligan said that speed ramps can cause damage to tractors and that “we have to be careful about ramps and raised tops” adding that it can “have a huge impact on a contractor if he's drawing silage along that route all day.”
Cllr Stenson said that “everybody gives out about the ramps on the Castlecarra Road (in Carrick-on- Shannon) and they are dangerous to a car and I don't think there was any need for it.”
Cllr McGowan asked regarding the national review on all speed limits, “if we identify certain roads that we think are in need of reducing the speed limit down to 50km/h, can we adopt our own by-laws in relation to that?”
Mr Fannon responded that “yes, there is an allowance for special speed limits in certain areas.”