How passing the buck can threaten lives

AS shocking as was the picture painted in your front-page story (‘63 days: 63 lives lost’, March 3), it had special resonance for people living in the aptly named Blind Gate side of Kinsale in Co Cork.

Five years ago, a Bord Pleánala inspector recommended rejection of a proposal for an inner village nearby, indicating that the existing road network was hazardous and emphasising that any increase in residential density would further endanger public safety. Her recommendation was overruled.

When contacted, the Road Safety Authority said that in planning matters it was up to the county council to act; the latter insist that the board’s decision was irreversible and pointed to the elected town council.

And so on around the mulberry bush. Other than a few signposts, no remedial action has been taken in the past five years. Surely when it comes to saving lives on roads, there should only be one agency with the authority to enforce its decisions.

Liam Shorten

Compass Cottage

Blind Gate

Kinsale

Co. Cork