A Belmullet councillor has hit out this week at the operation of a speed limit van near Bangor Erris.
Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle made his comments at the Belmullet electoral area meeting. He was discussing the 80km speed limit which currently exists on the way into Belmullet from Bangor.
Cllr Coyle has requested that this limit be increased to 100km per hour and he said the speed camera van which operates in the area was just “shooting fish in a barrel”.
Cllr Coyle said there is only one small speed limit sign on the way out of Bangor Erris alerting motorists to the 80km speed limit and if a van or truck is parked in the area the sign gets blocked.
He also accused the speed camera van of mostly operating when there is a big event happening. “It’s hard enough to attract people in the first place and then have them pay another €80 because they were caught breaking the speed limit and not knowing it,” Cllr Coyle said.
He said he was not condoning speeding and if people were caught above 100km per hour they should be prosecuted.
He was backed by Independent councillor Michael Holmes who said there have been occasions where councils have increased speed limits.
The elected members were told that there was a county wide review of speed limits under way.
