Speeding in Ballina

Tipperary Co Council has been asked to write to the local Garda superintendent over a new problem of speeding in Ballina.

Cllr Phyll Bugler told the December meeting of the council’s Nenagh Municipal District that ever since the old bridge was pedestrianised, motorists have been driving at speed through the town from the Portroe side. She suggested that speed ramps, bollards or some other form of traffic calming may be required.

District Engineer Barry Murphy said the council is hoping to secure funding for a low-cost safety scheme. The council is not in favour of ramps on regional roads, he said, adding that the matter is an enforcement issue and that public attitude to speeding in general needs to change.

Cllr Bugler replied that she had referred the matter to the gardaí. She did not think Ballina could wait a year for a safety scheme.

District Director Liam Brett said the council had allocated all of its own resources and had no option but to wait for grant funding.

Speaking in the week of four road fatalities in Tipperary, Cllr Fiona Bonfield regretted that speeding has become a worrying issue in the town of Newport as well. “People need to slow down and obey the rules of the road,” Cllr Bonfield said. “A lot of families are devastated this Christmas over what’s happened on the roads.”

Cllr Bugler said the superintendent should be asked to deploy more patrols to Ballina and Newport.