Council plans to close lane leading to Polestar Roundabout ‘are unbelievable’

By Chris Ashmore

PLANS to close one of the busiest lanes of traffic in Letterkenny in order to create two cycle lanes have been described by a local councillor as “unbelievable”.

As part of Donegal County Council’s Active Travel programme, it has now emerged that it is proposed to close one of the three road lanes between the Ballyraine roundabout and the Polestar Roundabout.

But now a review is to be carried out, after the issue was raised at the November meeting of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Council by Cllr. Ciaran Brogan who said that he did not agree with the proposals.

“Business in the area will be affected by these changes and to say that they are gobsmacked is an understatement,” he declared.

The stretch of road, in front of the Mount Errigal Hotel, is already subject to serious traffic congestion, especially in the evenings when there are long tail backs from vehicles coming from the Ramelton direction.

Cllr. Brogan said that while he was “all for active travel” he felt that the roads “can take more” and said he did not “agree to taking away a whole carriageway to put in two cycle lanes.”

The cycle lanes envisaged are tied in with the Active Travel development to promote cycling and walking along the N56, from the Polestar to the roundabout at Thomas Keys’ premises.

Significantly, Cllr. Brogan claimed that the works now planned do not comply with what is known as a “Part 8” which was passed by councillors back in 2020.

This is the planning process that a local authority uses for developments such as the construction of houses, roads, swimming pools, and public toilets.

It involves a public consultation process and a plan that is voted on by councillors.

The green cycleway/walking route from the Polestar to Ballyraine has already been dogged by controversy regarding the planned removal of a 90-year-old oak tree along the route.

Cllr. Brogan continued: “We need to restore trust with people in that area. The Part 8 passed in 2020 is not the same scheme now as what was proposed. He said that it was “unbelievable” for Road Design to be proposing to take away a lane “up to the far side of the Mount Errigal (Hotel).”

While he was supportive of the idea of having more cycle lanes, he felt they cannot be introduced “at the expense of movement of buses and cars.”

He pointed out that he had gone out to the area in question and watched the traffic there.

“I am very, very concerned about this,” he said. “People I have spoken to are very concerned. I have to be critical of roads service, saying this is a fait accompli, it is not.”

He asked for the contract not to be awarded and to suspend the works.

Noting that the single biggest issue in Letterkenny is traffic, he warned: “I think if we proceed, this will have a huge effect on traffic movement, not just in Letterkenny but all along the road out to Ramelton and traffic backlog.”

Cllr. Brogan’s motion that the council “review its active plan schemes in and around Letterkenny with a view to focus more on traffic movement rather than reducing traffic lanes for cycle lanes” was passed.

Cllr. Donal Kelly, who seconded the motion, said: “It is important to get this right. There are a lot of active travel projects taking place around Letterkenny at the moment. Some of them I would have concerns about.”

Council Director of Services Liam Ward, said that he was happy with a review being carried out and stated that he would report back to councillors.

He acknowledged that such proposed changes would “have huge implications.”

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