The major roadworks currently ongoing in Fossa village will continue according to the original plans and will not be changed in any way,
That was the defiant message from senior Kerry County Council officials at the conclusion of a very heated and occasionally confrontational meeting with local councillors this Wednesday afternoon.
Councillors were at pains to highlight the concerns raised with them by several residents, heavy goods vehicle and bus drivers, as well as agricultural contractors, that the main carriageway was far too narrow and it will lead to chaos, mayhem and safety concerns.
The elected councillors said they objected to being told there was a change in mindset required in their approach to the matter as bringing about a reduction in speed was the main priority to ensure the safety of children and others going to and from Fossa national school.
The meeting heard that the main carriageway on the road was just six metres wide – or 9′ 9″ from the herb to the white line in the middle of the road – but the pathway being built on the church side of the road alone was actually 5.7m wide.
Two separate motions from Mayor Cllr Maura Healy-Rae and Cllr Brendan Cronin called for amendments to be made and for the pavement on the church side to be reduced to make the carriage wider.
The meeting heard that two combined harvesters passing each other on the road would each be 3.5m wide which is a full metre wider than the full extent of the carriageway and it will lead to chaos if they have to mount the footpaths which would put pedestrians at real risk.
Concern was also voiced that emergency vehicles would struggle to pass in traffic as the kerbs are too high for motorists to pull in to allow them through.
Despite the concerns expressed and a number of angry exchanges, Kerry County Council Director or Roads, Frank Harnett, reminded councillors that after the matter went out to public consultation and the plans went on display, they voted in favour of the project which received planning permission on June 6, 2022.
Cllr Brendan Cronin argued, however, that the council voted for the work having been given assurances that there would be adequate room.
“Professional drivers now tell us that it is lethally dangerous and we have to listen to them,” he remarked.
Mayor Healy-Rae said people are not being hysterical in any way but there is a great sense of worry out there that there will be accidents.
“The scheme was approved on the council’s assurances regarding the width of the road – we took you at your word so do something to address it now,” she remarked.
But Mr Harnett said that surveys had inducted that heavy goods vehicles account for just three per cent of traffic on the Fossa road and that 95 per cent are regular cars.
“The whole idea is to reduce speed. The project is in the middle of construction at this stage and there is nothing we can do to change it”.
He said council officials had heard the concerns, visited the area and are satisfied that it should continue.
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