·         Minutes of Meeting held on 23^rd March, 2021

The Cathaoirleach Cllr. Donal Kilduff welcomed everyone to the meeting.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr. Tony Ward

         Seconded by:   Cllr. Laurence Fallon

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of Athlone Municipal District held on 23^rd March, 2021.

Cllr. L. Fallon thanked Roscommon County Council for all the work in relation to Lough Funshinagh.   He also thanked the farmers for allowing the OPW onto their lands to put in the long awaited overflow pipe.  This was supported by all members.

On the PROPOSAL BY:        Cllr T Ward

            SECONDED BY:       Cllr J Naughten

It was UNANMOUSLY AGREED by all members.

To send correspondence to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Agriculture requesting the provision of Compensation to the farmers affected by ongoing flooding at Lough Funshinagh for the loss of income and replacement of boundary treatments.

There  were no correspondences for noting.

Two Notice of Motions for discussion.

There were two Notice of Motions for discussion.

The following Notice of Motions and replies were read into the record and following a brief discussion took place in relation to below.

“That Roscommon County Council reduce the speed limit on the Woodmount road L2043 to Padraig Pearses GAA pitch, in the interest of public safety.   This is a very busy residential area with a significant volume of traffic using the road on a daily basis.   There is also a requirement to extend the footpath and lighting to the pitch.”

Response:

Following a statutory process, the County Roscommon Road Traffic (Special Speed Limits Regional and Local Roads) Bye-Laws 2020 were adopted by the Elected Members of Roscommon County Council in September 2019 and became effective from 1^st February 2020. It is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána to enforce compliance with speed limits on our road network.  Roscommon County Council has no plans to review the speed limits on the L-2043 towards Padraig Pearses GAA Pitch and in addition it’s not considered appropriate to provide footpaths and /or public lighting in rural areas.

The members extended a warm welcome and congratulated Cllr. Emer Kelly on her nomination as councillor for Roscommon County Council and Athlone MD.

A Vote of Sympathy was expressed on the sad passing of Eddie Fallon, Rahara RIP, to his wife Sheila and extended family.

There were two questions for noting,

“That Roscommon County Council provide a progress report on the proposed Part 8 for the New Tuam Road, as these works are urgently required.”

            Response:

Following a review of the Cloonakilla to Bealnamulla R362 Road Improvement Scheme, Roscommon County Council has engaged the services of an architectural consultant to carry out a high level design of all lands under our control in the general Monksland area.  This brief includes the R362 between the M6 and Cloonakilla National School and it is envisaged that this overarching architectural concept will feed into the final design for the improvement of the  R362 within the urban environment.

In addition to this the Roads and Transportation unit has managed to secure funding from the National Transport Authority to develop the final design on the R362 Improvement Scheme through Active Travel funding and the NTA are very eager to see this project through to completion. This design work will commence when the architectural concept design is finalised.

In the interim, the Roads & Transportation unit in conjunction with the Municipal District, has already commenced works on upgrading existing footpaths, public lighting and road markings in the area. We are also looking to develop a low cost safety scheme in the area around Cloonakilla National School which we will bring to the members once a feasibility study is carried out.  

“I am calling on the TII and Roscommon County Council to provide safety measures at Cornafulla N.S., R446 to extend the footpaths and reduce the speed limit to 50km per hour and installation of radar speed displays at this location.   Large signs and road markings should also be erected which will indicate a school ahead as it is not obvious to motorists.   The school is situated on the L20364-0 which is approximately 50 metres off the R446.

I am calling on Roscommon County Council and the TII to start the programme of works at Cornafulla N.S. immediately in the interest of road safety.”

            Response:

Transport Infrastructure Ireland no longer has a function in relation to roads adjacent to Cornafulla, Roscommon.  Following a statutory process, the County Roscommon Road Traffic (Special Speed Limits Regional and Local Roads) Bye-Laws 2020 were adopted by the Elected Members of Roscommon County Council in September 2019 and became effective from 1^st February 2020. It is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána to enforce compliance with speed limits on our road network. There are no current plans to review the speed limit on the R446 in Cornafulla. As a result of the speed limit the provision of a pedestrian crossing on the R446 is not appropriate.

There are existing School Flashing Lights on the R446 to alert people to the presence of the adjacent school and there are advance warning signs and dedicated left turn and right turning lanes along the R446.   RCC will apply for a Low Cost Safety Scheme in 2022 to the Department of Transport to enhance the warning signs and road markings at this location. 

That Roscommon County Council carry out a traffic count on the Dolanstown road L-7644 with a view to providing a right turning lane off the R446 as this is an extremely dangerous junction.

.

            Response:

Roscommon County Council has scheduled a traffic count in third quarter of 2021.

On the PROPOSAL BY:        Cllr. J Naughten

            SECONDED BY:       Cllr. T Ward

It was UNANIMOUSLY AGREED to write to the Department of Transport to request funding to widen sections of the hard shoulder between Cloonark and Summerhill on the R446 to cater for vulnerable road users.

On the PROPOSAL BY:        Cllr. D Kilduff

            SECONDED BY:       Cllr. L Fallon

It was UNAIMOUSLY AGREED by all members to write to TII to request a review of N61 between the junction with the N6 slip Rd and Roscommon Town. Cllr Kilduff expressed safety concerns for road users transiting from the proposed upgraded section from Ballymurray to Knockcroghery to the remaining substandard road to Athlone.