The announcement that John’s Row would become a one-way street on October 1 was criticised by Westport town councillors at their monthly meeting this week, saying that dialogue with residents needed to be sought before a final decision was made.
Mr Patrick Corcoran, Town Engineer, explained that a three-month trial of a one-way system from the Quay across John’s Row, with parking on the left-hand side of the street only, would come into effect on October 1 with announcement of this being advertised in local papers and also with letters being sent to local residents.
Councillor Margaret Adams said that giving two weeks’ notice to residents was short notice, saying that “I would be annoyed if I got a letter through the door” and that discussion with local residents needs to take place.
This really is “last minute.com” according to Cllr Tereasa McGuire, who also called for more dialogue with locals, while Cllr Brendan Mulroy said that the residents should be invited to a meeting. Not alone does this impact on residents in John’s Row but also on everyone in the town, according to Cllr Peter Flynn, who said that the road is used as a “relief road around the town”, something which was backed up by Cllr Dave Keating, who said the new system “is changing the flow of traffic through the town”, therefore advanced notice needs to be given.
It was proposed that this proposal will be advertised with submissions sought and a meeting should be held thereafter.
Following on from this discussion Cllr Mulroy said that it would also be a good time to address all traffic management in Westport as at present it is an “absolute farce” with problems such as double parking and the traffic lights being a major issue and, according to the Cllr , it is time “we bit the bullet”. The Fianna Fáil Cllr proposed that a public meeting is called and “to stop-pussy footing around” the issue.
Fine Gael Cllr Staunton said that an action plan in relation to traffic management needs to be drafted as issues which are countlessly raised seem to fall into “an abyss” and Cllr Keating also said that specific issues need to be addressed such as truck deliveries to the town which seem to be coming in “willy nilly” and are blocking up the flow of traffic.
