Oranmore community action group MÓR Action has set up an online petition on Uplift.ie asking Galway County Council to trial a one-way traffic system through Oranmore village.
The rationale behind the proposed change is to create wider footpaths and public realm open spaces, so that daily activities in the village - walking, shopping, going to church, or walking to school - can take place in a safe, socially distanced manner, and to improve traffic flow through the village. Within 36 hours, 1,066 people, over 20% of the population of the village according to the most recent census, had signed the petition.
“What MÓR Action is seeking is a trial of a system which has been implemented in towns and villages around the country from Clare to Dublin in these days of the pandemic. We believe what has been implemented around the country is also possible in Oranmore. A trial would cost next to nothing and has been enthusiastically supported by many businesses in the village” says Liam Frawley, a local community activist known for his work on safer access to schools for the children of Oranmore.
Safer, and more space
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Another member of MÓR Action, Caroline Rowan, was keen to point out ”It would give more space for walkers, people pushing prams with young children, cyclists, and disabled people. It would provide a safer, less hurried environment that would support people spending more time in the village and doing more business locally.”
Leonie Finn of MÓR Action comments that it is clear from the recent changes to parking and walking at Renville Park, that Galway County Council can very quickly amend road and parking layouts where necessary for Covid 19 related reasons.
'If towns and villages around Ireland can do this, why can’t we do this in Oranmore also?'
"MÓR Action are therefore hopeful that the same speed and ingenuity will be applied by the Council in creating a more accessible and welcoming village space in Oranmore," she said.
'Seize the day'
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To help illustrate what the potential changes might look like in Oranmore in the future, the group commissioned some artist’s renderings of possible layouts, which can be seen here. The final layout and stylings would be in the remit of the County Council engineers; however, the illustrations have helped generate a lot of engagement and discussion among petition supporters.
Group member Aonghus Kelly said, "if towns and villages around Ireland can do this, why can’t we do this in Oranmore also? Time waits for no-one. Let’s seize the day and try something. We have nothing to fear but fear itself!”
More detailed information on the MÓR Action petition can be found at https://my.uplift.ie/p/Oranmore-1-way.
