Call for transport blackspot of South Roscommon to be tackled

by David Flynn

Athlone councillors of Roscommon County Council have expressed disappointment that there has been no response to an invitation to the National Transport Authority (NTA) to visit the municipal district and discuss transport issues in South Roscommon.

Cllr Laurence Fallon had asked at the February meeting of the Athlone Municipal District of Roscommon County Council if there had been an answer back from the NTA for the request for a meeting, which he said he proposed and was seconded by Cllr Tony Ward at the previous meeting. When he heard there was no response he asked for them to be invited again.

“It’s important to keep this item on the agenda, because there is no improvement,” said Cllr Ward. “We are looking at Athlone having city status, and there is no progress being made in relation to transport in South Roscommon, which is falling way behind.”

He said that public transport ends at Monksland, and that there is none around Summerhill, Moore and Taughmaconnell.

“There is nowhere for young people to hop on a bus and go to Athlone,” said the Independent councillor. “We talk about climate change, but nothing is happening. I hope that we get a person here from the transport section to see what plans they have for the future.”

Cllr Domnick Connolly called it “an awful disaster,” and said that Athlone serves the Monksland side, but said that there is “a huge cry” around the Kiltoom area for some sort of public transport.

“It’s hard for older people to get out on that Athlone Road, and if they were in a bus, they could relax, but to drive out there is an absolute nightmare,” said the Fine Gael councillor.

Independent Cllr Emer Kelly supported and said that public transport is a massive issue and it would be beneficial to meet the NTA.

“Kiltoom is a built up area, and it could solve a lot of our problems with speeding if there was public transport there, because traffic in turn would have to slow down,” she said.

Cathaoirleach Cllr John Keogh said he raised the issue with a person from the NTA, and they said the matter should be dealt with by Transport For Ireland (TFI).

“This was raised at the joint meetings of the Athlone Municipal Districts, and from what I understand there is no response to the invitation for someone to come in here,” said the Fianna Fail councillor.

The meeting co-ordinator, Susan Loughnane said that she followed up the request, but they haven’t received a reply.

Cllr Ward went on to clarify that there is a bus service in Kiltoom, but just one day a week.

“That isn’t good enough for a rapidly growing area, and it’s only touching on areas,” he said.

The Cathaoirleach said that he raised about the Ballinasloe to Athlone route, which he said there is service to and from, but it’s not meeting the needs of the people,

“We are trying to encourage people out of cars, but by not putting in the infrastructure, it doesn’t make logical sense at all,” he said, while also uttering the mantra – “if you build it they will come.”

“Hopefully there will be a response on the next occasion,” ended Cllr Keogh.