Road safety concerns at tourist hotspots in West Cork

Calls for action at narrow sections of road where growing visitor numbers and traffic are causing delays

'The road is quite narrow there and, given the fact that the cable car is a huge attraction, it is making the road much busier.' File picture: Chani Anderson

Safety concerns have been raised over the narrow and overgrown road leading to the Dursey Island cable car — as well as campervans getting stuck heading to Mizen Head — as visitor numbers increase during the summer season.

Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington said campervans and cars were struggling to pass each other at several pinch points along the route. He raised the issue at a recent meeting of Cork County Council’s Western Divisional Committee.

Mr Harrington acknowledged cutting roadside hedges and vegetation was generally the responsibility of landowners but asked whether the council could intervene at particularly dangerous corners and narrow sections because of the volume of traffic travelling to the cable car.

“The road is quite narrow there and, given the fact that the cable car is a huge attraction, it is making the road much busier,” he said.

There are a few pinch points that are quite narrow. Even if a campervan meets a car, they can’t pass, which is causing traffic jams.

Mr Harrington said vehicles were being forced to reverse until they could find somewhere to pull in.

He said the difficulties were also affecting the TFI bus service operating along the route.

More than 20,000 people visit the cable car each year, according to Mr Harrington, making it an important attraction for tourism businesses and accommodation providers in the area.

He said some older residents now avoided using the road during the busiest periods, travelling either very early in the morning or late in the evening.

Mr Harrington asked whether Fáilte Ireland funding could be sought to help improve the route because of its importance to tourism. He also warned vegetation would grow further when wetter weather returned, making the road even narrower during the busy August period.

Fine Gael councillor Caroline Cronin said similar problems were being reported on the road to Mizen Head and on other roads across West Cork. “I’m getting calls every day about campervans getting stuck on the road to the Mizen as well,” she said.

Ms Cronin said she had gone out at 7am to deal with overgrown grass at several dangerous junctions following complaints from residents. She said there had been reports of near misses involving children walking towards a village, leaving parents extremely worried.

The meeting heard limited cutting could be carried out where vegetation posed a safety risk. The issue is to be referred to the council’s roads section and the relevant municipal district.

• This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme