Council may introduce 30kph limit in estates

Cork County Council is considering 30kph speed limits in more than 1,000 residential estates. However, it will prioritise 40 estates for the restrictions where children and other pedestrians are most at risk.

Each of the eight municipal districts will select five estates for an immediate implementation of the plan, which could in the long term affect 1,031 housing estates in the county.

Councillors decided yesterday in County Hall to act immediately following motions from Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus McGrath and Fine Gael’s Deirdre Forde, both particularly concerned about the safety of children.

Mr McGrath said he wanted a blanket bylaw introduced to reduce the current 50kph speed limit in all estates. Council chiefs agreed in principle to examine the proposal.

He said councillors were being lobbied all the time by parents who want traffic- calming measures introduced in housing estates to safeguard their children.

The council can apply for some grant aid from the Department of Transport. It hopes to begin a 40-estate pilot project next year.

Up to 50% of traffic- calming measures may have to be paid by estate residents and consultations will take place with them.

Ms Forde said she believed speed bumps should also be introduced in some estates and it was imperative gardaí were onboard to monitor speed limits.

Sinn Féin councillor Des O’Grady said specially designed speed bumps cost €3,200 each. Fine Gael councillor Derry Canty said a consensus was needed from residents but believed it was a worthwhile move.

The council’s deputy chief executive, Declan Daly, said the local authority must give a month’s notice for public submissions and alert gardaí before undertaking speed limit changes or any other traffic calming measures.