by Alan Jacques
THE problem of potholes at Nash’s Lane in Newcastle West has been described as “an embarrassment and safety hazard” that needs to be addressed in the interests of safety and local connectivity.
Speaking at this Wednesday’s municipal district meeting, Fine Gael Councillor Jerome Scanlan suggested that Limerick city and county council’s director of Travel and Transportation, Paul Crowe, should take a trip to the laneway to see the potholes firsthand.
“It’s a disaster area. Pedestrians are up and down this very thoroughfare all day. What if something happens?” asked Cllr Scanlan.
Fianna Fail councillor Michael Collins told council members that he had spoken to one of the owners of the laneway and been informed that it had always been maintained by the local authority in the past.
“They are not potholes up there, but craters,” said Cllr Collins.
“It wouldn’t take a lot for the Council to send someone up there with a few buckets of tar and chip,” he suggested.
Fine Gael councillor Liam Galvin warned the council executive that if anything happened at this site, that they would be responsible.
In response, the Council’s operations manager for West and South Division, Brian Kennedy explained, “The lane in question, even though utilised by the public, is in private ownership. It was due to be developed as part of the proposed planning permission for the Aldi site.”
Director of services, Paul Crowe, also told councillors that it was his understanding that Aldi were responsible for maintaining the property under their planning application.
