Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan says there is total frustration on the part of residents near Cappawhite due to damage to roads by contractors working for Coillte. Speaking to TMWR yesterday the FG councillor outlined how the contractors are operating at various times of the day and night and using roads totally unsuitable for the size of the loads involved. The matter was raised by the Councillor at last week’s MD meeting. Cllr Roger Kennedy also supported the call for measures to ensure that residents are not disadvantaged by the granting of licences for tree felling or road openings.
The Council Engineer, James Swords, committed to reinstating the road surface, however, Cllr Hanna Hourigan feels that while this is necessary, it is not the correct approach given that the road is likely to be damaged again over the coming months. The issue of enforcement as regards load weight is also causing frustration as residents feel that no one is taking responsibility for the scale of timber being transported. The Councillor says that Coillte, the Council and the Garda all have a part to play in the operation of the licences for road openings. School buses had to be suspended on part of the route last year as the operator considered the road too dangerous to service. Residents have also complained of damage to their cars due to the current road surface and property walls being damaged by the large vehicles transporting timber. To date no compensation to these residents has been provided. Cllr Hourigan also claims that a lorry transporting timber was involved in an incident with a child on a bicycle – the driver was unaware that the bicycle was extensively damaged by the contact with the vehicle. The worst affected areas are in the townlands of Commonaline, Foilldearag, Leugh and Knocknavar.
