This article is from page 23 of the 2012-05-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 23 JPG
A SCHEME that has been credited with helping to reduce speed on roads around Ennis should be extended to other parts of the town.
That’s according to Councillor Tony Mulqueen (FG) who says solar powered signs are already have a positive impact on driver behaviour.
In a motion submitted to a meeting of councillors in the Ennis East Electoral Area, Cllr Mulqueen stated, “I call on the area engineer to put in place more of those new solar powered electronic signs in the Ennis west area as they are proving very helpful to road users and making them aware of speed zones.”
In his response, Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, stated, “Ennis Town Council provided four digital speed signs on the Tulla Road as part of their 2011 roadworks programme.
“Provision has been made in the Ennis Town Council Roadworks programme for the provision of two further digital speed signs on Cusack Road.”
Electronic displays that show the speed of passing cars have already been installed on the Tulla Road by Ennis Town Council for road design purposes and the recording of traffic flow data.
The council is providing four 50/ kph activated electronic speed display signs on the Tulla Road at locations outbound after Tulla Road and Railway Bridge and Roslevan roundabout and inbound near Hill- crest and Cappahard Lane as a pilot scheme.
Through the scheme, the council will be able to download traffic flow data from the signs and this information can be used for road design purposes and data will be forwarded to the Garda traffic corps.
It is not the first time solar power has been put forward to help road safety on roads in Clare.
Last year independent councillor James Breen made the request for a public solar powered streetlight at Kilnamona Cross.
Cllr Breen said at the time that solar street lighting could be piloted in Kilnamona and, if successful, introduced around Clare.
He said the local community would be willing to cover 50 per cent of the cost of the project.