Paying €20k to restore 350m Kells road 'makes better sense'

Paying Cavan County Council €20,000 to restore a 350 metre stretch of road at Dungimmon in Oldcastle made better sense, Kells area council engineer Shane Carroll told members at their July meeting, where they agreed to seek funding for the work. The neighbouring council has already carried out work on two hill stretches adjoining this narrow patch of Meath, just north of Oldcastle. The council"s stretch was a hollow between the hills, said Cllr Michael Lynch, while Area Manager Brendan McGrath said Cavan had already carried out the health ahd safety procedures there. The funding problem meant money could only be sourced from the council"s current three-year plan for county roads, said Mr Carroll. Cllr Eugene Cassidy complained a stretch of road between Cormeen and Maio had collapsed forcing drivers to tilt onto the road centre to get by. There was another road at the bottom of the hill at Cormeen which would 'disintegrate' unless it was repaired soon. Mr McGrath told the Nobber councillor that work would begin on his village"s bridge in September. Mr Carroll said he would examine both Cormeen roads but the second one was not included in the three-year programme. Cllr Liz McCormack complained the Ward road near Athboy had suffered from excessive heavy traffic during the current sewerage scheme works. She thanked senior engineer David Keyes for resolving a safety concern at the Ráth Cairn works. But the infrastucture office should consult with the area office, which should not have to seek meetings about such local concerns, the meeting heard. Mr McGrath replied he would raise the matter with the infrastructure office. Road closures had resulted in substantially extra traffic on several roads, many taking a lot of hardship. That was particularly the case with several roads upgraded only in recent years, she told the manager. The sewage works in Athboy would leave the footpath by the church 'in total ribbons', while the proximity of heavy lorries to houses there will create future problems, said Cllr John Farrelly. He was told by Mr Carroll that a meeting would be held with the senior engineer to relay concerns about such problems and any of these he had raised with with infrastructure had been dealt with very quickly, said the engineer. Better consultation was needed, said Cllr Farrelly. Progress to date on the Kilmainhamwood sewage scheme was good but he 'shuddered' at how work would progress once this crossed the village bridge.