Village braces itself for toll-dodgers’ invasion

WELL done to Cork County Council for shirking all responsibility for the soon-to-be defunct bypass of Watergrasshill village, north of Cork city.

It appears the NRA will be to blame for the increased traffic flow through the village from early October when the Fermoy/Rathcormac bypass opens.

Any drivers who had assumed the new layout would allow those wishing to travel to or from Fermoy to bypass Watergrasshill — as is the current situation — should note they will now need to drive through the village if they want to avoid paying the toll.

While this will be a minor inconvenience for toll-dodgers, it will be a major safety concern for residents as we do not have a traffic light, a pedestrian crossing or even a speed bump to slow drivers revisiting the village after an absence of three years. Welcome back to 2003!

Whatever the reasons for adopting such an anti-community road structure, I urge politicians, locally and nationally, to put people ahead of business when planning roads in future.

They may think this disastrous road layout is not their responsibility because the NRA is involved, but as elected representatives they are responsible for the quality of life, or lack of it, in our communities.

Kate O’Keeffe

25 The View

Priory Court

Watergrasshill

Co Cork