The saga surrounding the Traffic Management Plan for DeValera Street, Church Street and the interdependent route ways thereof is set to continue until July at least, following a recent Youghal Town Council sub-committee meeting. The meeting, reportedly held ‘in committee’ (no media), focused on several aspects surrounding the non-adopted Traffic Management Plan previously agreed for the area.

The plan’s architect, Cork County Council engineer Eileen Coleman, was present at the meeting. As Youghal mayor, Mary Linehan Foley explains , she joined in discussion on an agenda that included the following criteria: the Ashe Street-DeValera/Church Street ‘rat-run’;   opening of Church Street to vehicular traffic; opening Church Street to pedestrians on a section of Church Street;  two-way traffic on DeValera Street and one-way traffic on DeValera Street. Also discussed was, traffic calming; curtailing traffic at the junction of Ashe Street and Windmill Hill (Hayman’s Hill, i.e. at the Devonshire Arms Hotel); a one-way system on Hayman’s Hill; improving the quality of life of residents in the entire area and residents taking back ownership of the street by removing parked cars and limiting traffic.

Re-closing of Church Street amongst measures proposed…

The mayor says that “the members agreed after considerable debate to request that the traffic engineer amend the existing Traffic Management Plan to accommodate the following: pedestrianise Church Street as per the Public Realm Plan; design chicanes for operation of two-way traffic on DeValera Street (This would necessitate a vehicle traveling in one direction pulling in to facilitate another vehicle coming against it.). Every car would be removed from DeValera Street, with double yellow lines on both sides.  Bollards might also be installed. The amendments would also limit traffic by closing Hayman’s Hill to downward traffic only and restrict delivery vehicles on Church Street, DeValera Street and Ashe Street to cars.

The amendments reflect a response to town clerk Liam Ryan’s belief that upward access on Hayman’s Hill is a predominant contributor to the ‘rat run.’ (As against cars turning left onto Windmill Hill and then right into Ashe Street, which may yet transpire.) There exists a belief, explains the mayor, that “by the time drivers get to Windmill Hill, they are half way up the town anyway and will be less inclined to seek access to Ashe Street/DeValera Street.” Only time will tell on that one.

Amendments to be considered

Mayor Linehan- Foley stresses that the engineer “wants to look at these proposals in detail,” before deciding whether to amend the original plan. “So it’s not done and dusted by any means,” she adds. Should the amendment ensue, follow by the public consultation process, it is hoped that the business would conclude in July, the mayor proceeds. However, with any closure of Church Street in itself also requiring public consultation, there is potential for further delay and complication.

Meantime…

In addition to the present juxtaposition, it is prudent to remember that the residents of De Valera Street agreed to a two-way system with no parking on the lane in conjunction with residential parking on the new car park. However, that was prior to Church Street being closed, with the surge in downward traffic. Last week one resident of DeValera Street who has campaigned for a one-way system, agreed that traffic on the lane has been considerably reduced since Church Street was re-opened

LISMORE TOWN COUNCIL is writing to the regional roads authority in Tramore in search of a ‘logical explanation as to why the National Roads Authority write road surface signs upside down!’ The move follows the failure by the NRA to respond to an earlier request for information at the behest of Cllr Bernard Leddy at last November’s meeting.

The councillor was exasperated by ‘incorrect use the English language’ as exemplified by such notices as:  ‘Stop To Prepare’ when read from the top down. He cited ‘Ahead Entrance Concealed’ as a more recent manifestation.

Town Clerk Karen Hallahan said her inquires failed to find any reference to protocol within NRA generated literature but that the road signage does conform to “national standards.” Cllr Leddy said the methodology was unknown on the Continent and argued that a driver without English as their first language could have come to grief by they had deciphered the message! The town clerk’s suggestion that the regional offices be asked to comment, rather than repeating the exercise with the NRA, was accepted.