The heart of Loughrea needs its arteries unclogged according to local Fine Gael representatives Sen Ciaran Cannon and Cllr Mogie Maher, who have called for a ban on heavy goods vehicles in the town centre.
The pair said this week that the town centre is still experiencing heavy HGV traffic almost five years after the completion of the bypass, and both traders and shoppers have asked that a ban on HGVs be put in place.
“This November we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the opening of the bypass and HGV drivers have had more than ample time to become accustomed to the new route around the periphery of the town,” Sen Cannon said. “There is simply no excuse whatsoever for any HGVs to enter the town centre other than to carry out collections or deliveries. The continued presence of these large trucks in the town centre is in my view inexplicable, and it is high time we unclogged the arteries of the heart of Loughrea once and for all.”
A redesign and upgrade of Loughrea’s Main Street provided wider footpaths, tree planting, and park benches, but according to the politicians the continued presence of HGVs in this area has detracted from the experience of shoppers as they move around. The pair said that road safety is a major concern in the town and a number of fatal accidents have occurred in recent years.
“Elderly people and the disabled in particular feel very much threatened by the continued presence of HGVs, and lives have been lost,” Cllr Maher said. “I know that our local gardaí are supportive of a ban on HGVs and they are more than willing to police it if implemented. It is also important to support the commercial life of the town centre and such a ban would surely make the Main Street more attractive for shoppers.”
The recent Smarter Travel bid lodged by Galway County Council for Loughrea town already contains a proposal to implement a ban on HGVs and it is hoped that it could happen in this context.
“It will be a very positive development for Loughrea if the Smarter Travel bid is successful and the ban is part of that proposal,” Sen Cannon added. “However if the bid fails we will be seeking to have the ban implemented without delay. The process is relatively straightforward as it only requires the manager of Galway County Council to sign an order and for signage to be erected at either end of the town. It could all be done within a matter of weeks.”
