Dangerous buildings: ‘No’ to covered pedestrian walkway

THE Cathaoirleach of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Council has called for a new wooden hoarding with a roofed pedestrian passage to be constructed to replace the existing safety fencing in front of the three dangerous derelict buildings on Letterkenny’s Upper Main Street beside the Market Square.

However, such a development is not set to proceed, at least in the short term, as the council has obtained advice from an independent chartered structural engineer and pedestrians will continue to be diverted to the opposite side of the street.

At the October meeting of the council on Tuesday, Cllr. Gerry McMonagle tabled a motion in which he called for a “proper hoarding” and “for a safe pedestrian walkway to be included to enable pedestrians’ safe passage down” Main Street.

He stated that “the cage does not look well for the town” and pointed out that people walk down to the barrier and then walk around and onto the road

He felt a “proper plywood surround” could be constructed and painted and it would provide a safe walkway for pedestrians. “It’s not too much to ask for that,” he said, pointing out that similar hoardings are seen in other towns and cities.

“You would be hiding an eyesore with a bright facade and also providing a safe walkway for pedestrians,” he added.

Responding to his motion, the council stated that it will advise local councillors on the proposals for the hoarding following a review of the contractor’s proposals “and taking into account traffic and pedestrian flows”.

Due to the advice from an independent chartered structural engineer, the diversion of pedestrians to the opposite of the street “will be maintained in the interim.”

Cllr. Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly, who supported the motion, said he “had a near miss” himself driving down the Main Street when someone stepped out at the last moment by the site in question.

Councillors were informed that the matter can revert to the engineer again but the council cannot ignore his advice.

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