Serious concerns about Daingean Active Travel plans

Offaly County Council may be forced to come up with new proposals for traffic calming measures under the Daingean Active Travel Scheme after serious concerns were expressed when the draft plans were debated at a packed public meeting in the town last week.

The meeting, which was organised by Daingean Development Association and attended by over 200 people, heard fears being expressed that the proposed speed calming measures will further damage the commercial life of the town, which has suffered from considerable rural decline in recent years.

Speaking in the wake of the meeting, Cllr Noel Cribbin said it was made “quite clear” to the councillors in attendance that the local community in Daingean did not want to see the Active Travel Scheme for the town going ahead in its current format.

While he acknowledged that the scheme includes “huge improvements works and critically major changes” to parking spaces and traffic flow, particularly at the junction and the Canal bridge, the Fine Gael councillor said the elected representatives on Offaly County Council who will be voting on the plan will “have to take the views of the local community on board.”

However, he pointed out that the danger outside Scully's shop “still remains” and he called on Offaly County Council to carry out a number of “small changes” to the Active Travel Plan in order to facilitate the wishes of the local community.

The Daingean speed calming measures would see a reduction in the width of the Edenderry approach road into Daingean (the R402) to 6.5 metres; junction tightening works at various locations; the removal of some on-street parking; new and upgraded footpaths on Main Street and the installation of two new pedestrian crossings, among many other measures.

Independent TD Carol Nolan pledged to bring the concerns of the people of Daingean to both the National Transport Authority and Offaly County Council, and said local representatives needed to work with the local authority to come up with a plan that “suits road safety, business, amenities and the residents of Daingean.”

She added that she is continuing to raise the need for a review “on the use of speed ramps in Daingean” with the council, and the difficulties being faced by residents in terms of access to parking spaces for themselves and for the emergency services.

Meanwhile, members of the public have until Thursday of next week, February 13, to inspect or purchase the plans for the Daingean Active Travel Scheme at the offices of Offaly County Council, Áras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, and the offices of Edenderry Municipal District, Edenderry Town Hall, O’Connell Square, Edenderry.

Submissions or observations on the plans can be made, in writing, until 12 noon on February 28 next, to: Barry Lennon, Acting Director of Services, Transport and Active Travel, Offaly County Council, Áras an Chontae, Charleville Road, Tullamore, County Offaly R35 F893.

Envelopes should be clearly marked ‘Daingean Active Travel Scheme Part 8 Submission’.