There was dismay in the council chamber last week as it emerged there is no funding available for traffic lights at the IDA Business Park and Lidl junctions on the east side of Athlone.
Cllr Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran was told that other projects have been prioritised for this year, and that the provision of traffic lights at the entrance to the business parks on the old Dublin road would only be considered if further funding is released.
“People can’t get in and out in the evenings. We owe it to all the developments and businesses there to do this. We could lose jobs over this. The contract for some of these companies is up and they won’t want to re-engage. Why are other projects being done and this one is put off? I think it’s appalling and we deserve a better answer,” said an angry Cllr Moran.
Director of services Barry Kehoe agreed that the issue is “very frustrating”. “We have a detailed design done and want to go to tender...We got instructions from the Department of Finance to maintain capital, and we can only spend what we take in. If we can realise the money this year we will go ahead, but at this time we haven’t the money to go ahead.”
