Following on from the news that road works to the value of over £400,000 are to be undertaken by the County Council under the early start program in the New Year. A Further £175,000 has been approved for the N18 at Oranmore to Claregalway. Among the roads included are: N84 Loughgeorge (I2119) and Mulacutra (2219/1), Waterview, Kiloughter, Carnmore Pitch towards Moorpark (R339), Kiltullagh towards Rockmount, Lisheenavalla (£101), Ballymurphy towards Carnmore School (7110), Carraun Upper towards Maree (87107), Gortadooey/Cloonbeggin (6198/9), Crusheen towards Loughgeorge (7113) and the Giles Road towards Kiltrogue (3102/3).
This huge commitment by the Council is welcome news for everyone but it must be recognised that there are many other roads in need of attention and I would welcome hearing from people who have suggestions as to where the next priority work should be undertaken.
Public lighting
Under the terms of a new arrangement with councillors, each representative has a discretionary sum of money allocated for the installation of public lighting in local areas. These, however, are subject to guidelines such as the funds not being available for use on roads such as the MN17 and N18 while lights will only be installed within designated speed limit zones on county roads. Where there are suggestions as to appropriate areas under the guidelines, please contact me on 091-794991 or 087 2648607.
Claregalway Draft Development
The draft development plan for the village is due to go before the Council in the very near future and once it gets the green light from councillors it will go back on public display for a further month. During that time, I will be available to meet with individuals or groups by appointment to discuss any aspects of the plan which may be of concern to them. Issues such as new footpaths for the approaches to Claregalway village should be a high priority for many people and I will be advocating their introduction as part of the plan.
N17—Emerging preferred route
With the publication and the subsequent approval by councillors of the emerging preferred route for the N17, the potential which the original plan held for the splitting up of the parish and the communities around Claregalway has now diminished and at this stage is unlikely to surface again as an issue for the area. The end result would now indicate that by 2006—with the completion of the new route and once the results of current traffic flow projections are borne out—Claregalway village will not suffer any further traffic congestion. Another key factor is this—and one which is based on first hand reliable information—will be that the N17 is not to become a toll road as might originally have been thought.
For information or to contact Cllr. Noel Grealish, MCC. PC. tel. 091-794491 or 087 2648607
