Calls for improved traffic calming policy to reduce speed on roads across Longford

Elected members of Longford County Council are in favour of a revised traffic calming policy which will impose new measures to make roads across the county safer.

The plans were brought forward by Cllr Turlough McGovern, Cathaoirleach of Granard MD, at the November meeting of the local authority.

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Cllr McGovern, who is also chair of the Physical Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), believes that more can be done to ensure road safety across the county and that the revised traffic calming policy can take major steps in achieving that target.

The overall aim of the revised traffic calming policy will be to reduce speeds on the roads of Longford and make them safer for vulnerable road users.

This policy will incorporate additional measures to reduce traffic speeds throughout the 'Active Travel' and 'Safe Routes to School' programmes.

The updated policy will reflect the feedback which was given by the elected members and members of the physical development SPC.

Cllr Mick Cahill voiced his support of the motion during the county council meeting saying, "I very much welcome this motion, there's plenty of areas locally we need to address and calm traffic.”

He continued, "This needs our attention and we now have the opportunity to visit the various locations and make them safer for road users.”

Cllr Seamus Butler also welcomed the motion but warned of the difficulty of the task ahead explaining, "It's a great motion but it's difficult to get speed checks and speed ramps done, there needs to be 30mph speed limits on housing estates but it's often a long process.” Councillors have been advised that any revised traffic calming policy will have to take certain considerations into account before it can be implemented.

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These considerations include funding from national and local sources and the impact it may have on buses and emergency services in the county.

There is also a requirement to maintain the capacity and efficiency of the strategic road network as well as the prioritisation of vulnerable road users and focal points for pedestrians including schools.

The motion will have to take those considerations into account as they proceed.