UP to 40 new signs are to be erected in the Ballysimon area, directing motorists to the various business and retail parks, at a cost of €25,000 to Limerick County Council.
Pat O’Neill, senior engineer, told the Limerick Post that 30 to 40 signs would be erected in the approach roads to the general Ballysimon area.
Speaking at a Castleconnell area meeting in County Hall, Mr. O’Neill said that the council was taking a “proactive” approach to the regulation of signage.
“We’ll be putting up signs to Ballysimon and Groody, etc., and motorists will be directed through a series of signs, until they reach the business or retail parks.
“Ballysimon has been lost with all the other signs in the area, so we want to define it more clearly”.
However, councillors raised an issue of clarity in relation to the proposed new signage for Eastway Business Park, translated to Plaza Oirthear na Cathrach in the draft sign.
“That sign would translate to Plaza East of the city, and would be confusing for people,” advised Cllr Mary Harty.
“Its fine for people who know the area, but for others it would be confusing.
“There’s no point putting signs up that people won’t understand”.
She also raised concerns that Ballysimon would be dragged into the city environs with the new signage.
“It’s an old village.
“I have a problem with it being swamped into the sprawling suburbs”.
Mr. O’Neill emphasised that the idea was just being introduced, but that an official proposal would be prepared for the next meeting.
Guidelines for dealing with unauthorised signage were also highlighted by council official, Pat Fitzgerald.
Fines will be imposed if signs are not removed by a set date.
Cllr Harty said that there needed to be consistency with the imposition of fines.
“We have been desperately lax with fines. Some businesses have been hit and others have not.
“The Litter, Planning and Roads sections are all responsible for this issue and there is no sense having the three departments pursuing the same target.
“It should be co-ordinated to ensure justice”.
However, she also claimed that there should be different rules for small rural businesses.
“There should be different sanctions for different roads”.
Cllr Noel Gleeson added: “We should stop fining people in small businesses who are trying to keep them up and running”.
Mr. O’Neill explained that there was a law in place regarding signage.
“The matter has to be regulated.
“We would much rather have proper signage in towns and villages, before we ask businesses to take down unauthorised signs”.
He confirmed that the signs erected for the five businesses on the N24, whose trade was affected when the new road was built, would remain in place.
