FINE Gael councillor Stephen Keary has called on Limerick City and County Council to withdraw plans for N21 Adare Western Approach Improvement Scheme works, which are due to start at the end of the year.
FINE Gael councillor Stephen Keary has called on Limerick City and County Council to withdraw plans for N21 Adare Western Approach Improvement Scheme works, which are due to start at the end of the year.Speaking at this month’s Adare/Rathkeale municipal district meeting, Cllr Keary expressed disappointment that the planning application is proceeding despite the serious concerns raised by local councillors about the proposed €1 million upgrade.
He accused the council executive of “railroading” the application and said he would not be supporting the scheme, as many issues raised had not been “trashed out”.
The project, which will extend from the R519 Ballingarry Road to the L1422 Blackabbey Road over a distance about 1.3km on the N21, includes pavement rehabilitation, drainage and footpath works.
Cllr Keary has called for the plans to be amended to include the provision of sewerage pipes while the road is dug up and a footpath along the Blackabbey Road.
“The local authority and the utilities need to address the issues. You are going to build a road at enormous expense without the proper utilities. Our concerns are falling on deaf ears. This is taxpayers’ money you are spending,” he fumed.
Fianna Fail councillor Kevin Sheahan warned the executive that council members would be taking the issue “all the way” and suggested they come up with an acceptable plan.
“Our views are very strong. Unless our views are taken on board we will refuse Part 8. Don’t make us do it,” he urged the council executive.
Independent councillor Emmett O’Brien said he was growing increasingly frustrated at the executive’s approval of works without reference to the councillors.
“It is unacceptable. You have not taken on board the concerns as raised by councillors. We have had no feedback,” he said.
Independent councillor Richard O’Donoghue said digging up the roads and not taking the opportunity to also lay down sewerage pipes would be “absolutely criminal”.
“You are putting the cart before the horse. I can’t see the logic. Ye mustn’t have a spark of cop on. Our concerns are not being addressed,” he added.
Adare-Rathkeale district director Caroline Curley pointed out that the footpath was not part of the scheme but agreed that it was needed. She said that she would like to see a footpath at the Blackabbey Road but explained that it was all down to funding. Regarding the sewerage pipes, she said it was not on Irish Water’s “priority list”.
by Alan Jacques
