Changes to Rhode roadworks after protest

Offaly County Council has amended its roadworks in Rhode to reduce the scale of the new footpath which was installed at the crossroads in the centre of the village recently.

The council agreed to agreed to meet with local residents in Rhode following a protest in the village on Tuesday, October 17 opposing the new footpaths.

Following the meeting with residents, the council issued the following statement:

“The Council acknowledge that works are causing disruption and concern for residents. The project has been designed in accordance with best practice guidelines with pedestrian safety and traffic calming as the main driver. Following a meeting with local residents and councillors, the works are progressing with some minor amendments.

“Once the works have been completed and in operation for a period of four weeks, the council will engage an independent consultant to conduct a Road Safety Audit to assess the operation and effectiveness of the junction. Offaly County Council will pursue other funding avenues to provide further enhancement which can build on the Village Centre enhancements under this project.”

Local residents were unhappy with the road being raised to footpath level and with the closure of the junction while the work was taking place. Lorry drivers were being forced to mount a footpath to drive through the village, something which protestors said was putting children “at risk” and forcing lorry drivers to “navigate dangerous and totally unacceptable corners.”

One of the organisers of the protest, Rhode native and local business owner, Jenny Whelan, said that the progress to amend the current footpath is a “good start”.

Jenny said they have to let the council “go ahead” with the raised table and assess it for four weeks.

“We need to assess it to see will the other side of the road work. I personally can't see it working still, but they believe that when the works are finished that it will work.

"We'll keep assessing it and see how the traffic's getting around that corner," she said, while pointing out that bollards on the bend had been hit six times already.

The Offaly woman added that she thinks the result of the meeting is a “positive outcome” and that the council is meeting them “halfway” by amending one side of the footpath.

Jenny continued: “I personally handed them a list of the other issues that are of concern in the village."

The lack of parking in the village due to the new footpaths was also highlighted by Jenny, who said this has significantly reduced footfall for local business owners. Local councillors are working on securing funding for a new car park but she believes that should have been put in place before any of the roadworks commenced.