Independent councillor Seamus Weir put forward a motion at the April meeting of the Ballina Municipal District which read: "I call on Ballina Municipal District to provide a left filter lane on Water Lane Street, turning left on to Connolly Street.
It will enable traffic to free up towards the N26." In a written response to his motion, Orla Burke, executive engineer for Mayo County Council, said: "Currently, Water Lane includes two-way traffic with eastbound and westbound cycle lanes. The overall width of the carriageway is not adequate to enable the introduction of an additional lane to allow traffic to turn from Water Lane to James Connolly Street.
Recent funding allocated towards proposed Transportation and Active travel studies will provide up-to-date information and recommendations on traffic flow and preferred cycle routes, which will enable this matter to be reviewed." Cllr Weir said he was not happy with the response and in his view, 'if you had a left lane, the traffic would allow the traffic to move freely out towards the train station and stop the traffic being blocked up further back the street'. He received support from fellow councillors, with both Cllr Annie May Reape and Cllr Mark Duffy supporting the call.
