'Ludicrous' - Strong opposition to Mayo town junction proposal

COMMUNITY NOTES: FOXFORD - WESTERN PEOPLE (JUNE 9 EDITION)

Some strong views were expressed at a public meeting held in The Moy Hotel last Tuesday, in relation to proposed changes at the junction of the N26 and Main Street, including the pedestrian crossing.

An attendance of more than 100 people gathered to discuss the many aspects of Mayo County Council’s potential traffic calming measures, observations for which were being accepted by the council up until last Friday, June 5.

There is strong local opposition in particular to the idea that traffic travelling down Main Street would in future be prevented from turning right onto the Swinford Road and directed instead down Lower Main Street and Providence Road.

“For people to have let this through (as a proposal) is quite surreal,” Cllr Neil Cruise has stated. It was the opinion of many who attended the meeting that it would be “ludicrous” to add that amount of traffic to two local roads that struggle already to accommodate two-way traffic and which crucially facilitate Hope House, Foxford Woolen Mills, St Joseph’s Secondary School, residential properties and provide access to the grounds of Moy Davitts GAA Club and S&F United FC and to Foxford Leisure Centre also.

To not allow a right turn at O’Hara’s corner, would only “magnify the problem and move it to another part of town,” said Cllr Cruise, acknowledging that it is only one of the council’s proposals and that it would be objected to strongly.