Clare County Council says it will still look to further reduce speed limits on two parts of the coastal N67 route, even though local campaigns to bring limits down to 60 kilometres per hour have been unsuccessful.
Instead, speed limits at locations in Quilty and Ballyvaughan will only drop to 80 kilometres per hour as part of a countywide review.
Janet Cavanagh, who operates a Fr. Ted-inspired cycling tours company, expressed her anger last evening at Clare Councillors who backed this review of speed limits.
This was the third time they had discussed the issue.
They rejected it the first two times, after they were told that Transport Infrastructure Ireland were opposing efforts to reduce speed limits on sections of the N67 at Quilty, near to a school, and at Corkscrew Hill in Ballyvaughan to 60 kilometres per hour.
Christine Sharpe says the speed limits on Corkscrew Hill, close to where she lives, are simply too fast.
Last evening’s meeting heard that Clare County Council had held extensive negotiations with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, as they pressed residents’ concerns upon them.
The national body is required to give its consent to any changes.
There were some changes to the plan this time around – speed limits at Quilty and Corkscrew Hill were to remain unchanged at 100 kilometres per hour at one stage, but they are now coming back to 80 kilometres after a compromise was struck.
Council CEO Pat Dowling says they’ll continue with their engagements on these issues.
Six Councillors, four of them from the West Clare Municipal District, rejected the review last evening, while seven more abstained in the vote.
It carried, however, with the support of 12 elected representatives including just one from the West Clare area.
That was Cooraclare Fianna Fáil Councillor Bill Chambers, who explained his decision.
