20 January 1999

Fresh controversy over Lucan Street house

Fresh controversy has erupted over the local authority house under construction at the junction of Lucan Street and Charles Street in the town. There was uproar a number of months ago when a dispute arose over the dwelling's building line. Now, it has been claimed, the site is being poorly maintained since work on the house recommenced.

Mr. Frank Durcan said there was mud everywhere. "It's a disgraceful situation, and a damning reflection on the National Building Authority. We should instruct the manager to abandon the project."

Mr. Blackie Gavin described the project as 'a mickey mouse job.' "It's the most dangerous junction in Castlebar," he added.

Mr. Johnny Mee, chairman, said Mr. Durcan agreed at a previous meeting that he would go along with whatever the consultants said about the building line, but now he had changed his tune.

Senator Paddy Burke said Mitchell Consultants were not the B all and end all in this town. "As far as I know, they did not come up with any suggestion. But Tony McNulty, a highly respected engineer at Mayo County Council, said the wall should be moved back. "Now that it has gone ahead, we should look seriously at putting a filtered traffic system at the location. I have seen these systems work very successfully in the Isle of Man."

Mr. Paddy McGuinness said he did not know what all the argument was about. "We can have the perfect roundabout there."

Mr. Durcan: "Vital information was suppressed when we debated this issue a number of months ago. The engineer's report should have been circulated."

Mr. John Condon, town clerk, said the report in question was read at the council meeting on August 13th last by Mr. Padraig Hughes, acting assistant county manager. "There is nothing in that report that was not disclosed."

Mr. Mee said he disagreed with Mr. Hughes on the night, but he did not think the council could knock the house now. "A simple job can be done to fix up the current problem," he added.

Mr. McGuinness said there was no need to knock the house.

It was agreed the town foreman would inspect the site and ensure it was cleared up as a matter of urgency.

Debate opens on proposed new link road

A member of Castlebar Urban Council has expressed disappointment that 'nothing has been done' with the proposed new spur road linking the old Westport Road with Newport Road.

Mr. Blackie Gavin said preliminary drawings for the road were displayed last February, and it was indicated at the time that the road, which featured a new roundabout near the bridge at Brooklands, would be started before the completion of McDonald's Restaurant. "Nothing has been done, and I am disappointed. Residents in the Newport Road area want to know what is happening."

Mr. Gavin said he was also very disappointed that the press-button pedestrian crossing had not been provided at Newtown, despite the assurances of Mayo County Council. "This system must be put in place before somebody is killed. The spur road would take pressure off the Newtown junction."

Senator Paddy Burke seconded Mr. Gavin's proposal. But he was disappointed all the members of the urban council were not invited to a special meeting to discuss the spur road in Aras an Chontae last week

He said: "I understand two exits are proposed. One at St. Gerald's College and the other further out the Newport Road near Conway's Garage, at the entrance to the new housing estate. It is also my view that this plan is also linked to moves to provide playing fields for St. Gerald's College. "So we, as elected members of the town, need to be familiar with his whole issue."

Senator Burke said he still believed the council should have allowed a limited number of houses to be built on the hills over-looking Lough Lannagh. "Now, instead of houses, we are going to have a dirty old road close to these playing fields which, in my view, will represent a danger."

BRIDGE OVER LAKE

Mr. Frank Durcan said there was nothing wrong with allowing development on the hills in question, if it is properly planned. "It should be said that we have lost what we were hoping to preserve because of the building of McDonald's restaurant and Casey's filling station and shop."

Mr. Durcan stated the proposed route of the spur road was wrong. "It should run through the Holiday Village, across the lake at Gillespie's Island, and exit well out the Newport Road. What's the point in having a road which will bring traffic back into the town, and running a main road beside a school would be ridiculous anyway.

"The relief road should go much further out, and it would open up new development land. The junction at McDonald's has already enough to cope with. Our consultants said it was becoming the most dangerous junction in Castlebar.

"Building a bridge over Lough Lannagh, as I suggest, would also have the effect of opening up the amenity as a more accessible tourist attraction. Our EU Commissioner, Padraig Flynn, was quoted as saying that some time ago, and I would have to agree with him. What we need most in Castlebar in an outer relief road."

Mr. Paddy McGuinness welcomed the fact that Mr. Gavin had opened up a debate on the issue. "I have an open mind where the road should be, but we should avoid allowing the issue become totally confrontational as it was when the inner relief road was being planned."

It was Mr. McGuinness's view that placing a roundabout so close to McDonald's would not have the desired effect.

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - January 1999