Councillors have differing views on Ballina traffic

Complaints about traffic jams and congestion in and around Ballina have been rejected by a local councillor who says that heavy traffic shows the town is open and ready for business. 

At the November meeting of Mayo County Council, Cllr John O’Hara once again raised the issue of traffic jams and long tailbacks into Ballina, having highlighted the matter several times at meetings of the county council and municipal district during the year.

Cllr O’Hara told the forum that the traffic is now “wicked in Ballina”, stating that the problem is being compounded by a lot of current roadworks involving Uisce Éireann and EirGrid while the flood relief project is also imminent. 

The Fine Gael councillor asked council management if there was any way that traffic could be redirected around the bridges to speed up flow, suggesting that local businesspeople believe that shoppers are no longer coming to town because “it is impossible any morning to get in as all the roads are blocked, which is unfair to the ratepayers and everybody else”. 

Cllr O'Hara said anyone working in Hollister who wanted to return home for dinner could no longer do so “as it would take over an hour to get there and back, so they have to stay there".

However, Cllr Annie May Reape said traffic is busy in most towns and the North Mayo capital was no different.  

“Ballina town is very much open for business and if the roads into it are busy that’s a good sign." 

The Fianna Fáil councillor added that the traffic delays occur mostly at rush hour and school opening and closing times, telling the forum: “The traffic is moving very well in Ballina and along the Foxford Road since the barrier was removed in Francis Street. It is only busy when the traffic is around the convent secondary school and St Muredach’s College and goes onto the Sligo Road, but it is easy to drive into town and there is free flow.” 

Cllr Reape said once confirmation is given for the Ballina orbital route, which is very well advanced at this stage, “we will see the whole area rectified and in the meantime I want everyone in this council chamber to come to Ballina and see it is a thriving town”.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.