'There is going to be a major accident': Calls for traffic calming on Bantry’s unofficial bypass

Councillor said residents had repeatedly raised concerns about speeding and dangerous parking conditions along the route, where many children walk to school

Motorists often use Bantry's 'unofficial' bypass to avoid traffic congestion in the town centre. File picture: Karlis Dzjamko

Concerns have been raised over road safety on a busy route through Bantry, West Cork, amid warnings a serious accident could occur if traffic-calming measures were not introduced. 

The issue was highlighted by Independent Ireland's Danny Collins at a recent meeting of Cork County Council's West Cork Municipal District, where he called for a safety audit to be carried out on the route from Church Road to Scart Road with a view to implementing traffic-calming measures and introducing yellow lines where necessary.

Mr Collins described the route as an unofficial bypass for Bantry, particularly for motorists travelling from the Beara Peninsula and Kealkill. He said drivers often used the route to avoid traffic congestion in the town centre.

“If they see a line of traffic in front of them at the playground, they scoot up Cois Riasc, down Church Road and down to Main Street, and up High Street to Scart Road,” he said.

Mr Collins said significant housing development in recent years had increased the number of pedestrians using the area, particularly schoolchildren walking along Church Road.

“A lot of kids are walking to school on Church Road,” he said. 

Mr Collins suggested raised pedestrian crossings could help slow traffic. He said residents had repeatedly raised concerns about speeding and dangerous parking conditions along the route.

“To be quite honest, it is dangerous if you travel that road, Church Road, on any day,” he said.

Mr Collins said vehicles were frequently parked outside houses on bends, creating visibility problems for motorists and pedestrians. "There should be yellow lines," he said.

He saida number of minor collisions had already occurred and warned a more serious incident could happen if action was not taken. "There is going to be a major accident,” he said.

Among the measures he suggested were raised crossings, traffic-calming measures and a review of traffic management arrangements on Scart Road. However, he said he did not believe a one-way traffic system would be practical as it would force motorists to take lengthy alternative routes.

Mr Collins said the lack of footpaths on parts of Church Road added to the danger for pedestrians: “A lot of people walk it, it's very narrow, there's no footpaths. Something has to be done,” he concluded.

The motion was seconded by Fine Gael's Caroline Cronin, who agreed measures were needed to slow traffic in the area. She said raised tables were likely to be the most effective option.

Responding on behalf of Cork County Council, executive engineer Kevin Lynch said the concerns raised would be referred to the council's road design office. “The carrying out of a safety audit and the design of traffic-calming measures will be referred to the road design office for their attention,” he said.

This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme