Lack of road markings in Mayo town is 'a disaster'

A Castlebar councillor has claimed that the lack of road markings in the county town is proving “a disaster”.

Cllr Ger Deere raised the issue at last week's municipal district meeting when he told Mayo County Council management: “Road markings around Castlebar are just a disaster. I am sick talking about Gallows Hill. If a stranger came down it they would not know what to do as there are no road markings there. Please get this done as a priority. 

"We also need line marking as a priority for Pound Road, at Cornanool, out Rathbawn Road and the old Glenisland Road. All are recipes for accidents. 

"I know [former councillor] Mark Duffy tried for a long time to get our own line marker for the county. It is proven it is needed because the company that does it covers an awful lot of the country, but to get them at the right time with the weather being suitable is not easy.” 

Cllr Blackie Gavin also called for road markings to be provided at Thomas Street leading over to the SuperValu shopping centre, as well as at the exit from the old post office at Mountain View, adding: “We were involved in a clean-up there and you would not believe, it was in an awful state, it was disgraceful really. We asked the municpal district council for help and thank them for providing that. The shop that is there, a lot of people park in at the back of it and then exit on to Mountain View but it is very dangerous and needs some kind of clearway box.” 

Cllr Cyril Burke said the HSE-owned property across from the old post office “looks desperate and we need to do something to tidy it up”. He also raised the issue of signage for the road from the town to the golf club, saying: “It is being resurfaced at the moment but are there any works planned there also because with the new surface it is faster the traffic will go, whether to the pitch at Milebush or the Balloor Road”.

Cllr Al McDonnell said there was “evidence of damage to road signage at the Keelogues/Moneen road junction and also at Mulroy's roundabout, following storm damage, which needs to be rectified”. He added: “There is also damage to road signage at Frenchill, Ballintubber and Clogher that appears to be vandalism-related. I can’t understand the mentality of people who interfere with important road signage including stop signs at dangerous junctions.” 

Head of the district David Mellett told members: “We are gathering a scope of areas to do and highlighting some and also car parking areas, so the tender will be going out in the next few weeks. We have a budget identified to do some of the works. As to the building across from the post office, this is a derelict site so I will engage with the team working on this."