Council motion to suspend Active Travel passes - Donegal News

A HIGHLY topical motion to suspend Active Travel projects in Letterkenny was passed at today’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.

This does not mean that works will be paused immediately; rather, the recommendation will be forwarded to the senior management team of Donegal County Council.

Cllr Ciaran Brogan today said: “I propose that the council suspend the proposed works with Active Travel plans already passed through planning at this point.

“Namely the Ballyraine Road to Tesco roundabout, Circular Road – from the hospital roundabout to the top of Glencar – and that we as a council seek specialist traffic consultants to look at short, medium, and long-term solutions.”

Criticism has emerged about Active Travel plans in Letterkenny amid heavy congestion in the town over recent weeks.

Active Travel plans are official strategies and infrastructure projects designed to promote journeys by foot, wheel, bicycle, or non-motorised scooter rather than by car. The aim is to promote sustainable transport and reduce carbon emissions and traditional reliance on cars for short trips and also improve public health.

However, Fianna Fáil councillor Brogan expressed his worries at the “negativity” that traffic is having on Letterkenny, which he described as a “very successful town” otherwise.

“I would like to see us as a council appointing a traffic consultant,” he said.

Cllr Brogan pointed to the recent announcement of €20 million for the Northern Network Project (Windyhall Road), which he said would alleviate some of the traffic flow.

He informed councillors that the funding is “good news” and that the project must be “substantially completed” by 2028.

However, he stated that it “makes no sense” that the Windyhall project is running “absolutely in parallel” with the Circular Road Active Travel project, which runs from the hospital roundabout to Glencar.

“It makes no sense whatsoever to have roadworks on the Circular Road and roadworks on the Windyhall Road,” he said.

“What are the people of Long Lane going to do? What are the people of Glencar going to do, Trentagh, Killylastin?”

Cllr Brogan suggested that an Active Travel project on the Old Farm Road, from Carnamuggagh through Gortlee to the ATU, would be more beneficial for the town than current projects.

His motion was seconded by Cllr Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly, who has also voiced his beliefs that Active Travel is “premature” for Letterkenny.

The motion was passed, with Director of Planning, Communities and Culture, Eamonn Browne confirming that the matter would be brought to senior management.

A lengthy written response was also provided. It states: “The Letterkenny Transport Plan 2023 to 2029 was adopted by the Council as part of the Letterkenny Local Area Plan process following extensive public consultation and collaboration with key stakeholders.”

The response acknowledges that traffic congestion “is a matter of real concern for the residents of Letterkenny and those that travel to it for work, education and other reasons”.

Furthermore, “Active Travel Network is part of the overall solution outlined in the Letterkenny Transport Plan and is supported by the NTA and TII who have earmarked an investment of €20M in the town in this type of infrastructure.

“These infrastructure projects in general do not reduce the number of travelling lanes for vehicles and in some cases increase the number of lanes at key junctions such as on the approaches to the new signalised junctions that will replace the Ballyraine and Creamery roundabouts. These projects introduce safe and effective travel opportunities for pedestrian, cyclists, and our vulnerable road users linking residential areas to destinations such as schools, ATU facilities, healthcare facilities and the town centre.”

Ultimately, the response recommends that transport projects are progressed as quickly as possible and that significant investment has already been made.

The total funding allocated to Donegal County Council for the Active Travel schemes is €10.82 million, including €4.6m from the National Transport Authority (NTA) for local Active Travel Investment Grants, and some €6.22m from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for regional greenways and national road integrations.

Other motions related to traffic were also raised at the meeting.

100% Redress councillor Tomás Seán Devine called for a meeting with gardaí and relevant stakeholders to discuss Letterkenny traffic in the run-up to Christmas.

A similar meeting took place last year with members of An Garda Síochána, however Cllr Devine expressed that it was held “too late in the year”.

He also suggested that some traffic lights in the town may be adding to congestion, including at the ‘new Dunnes’ roundabout and retail park area.

Separately, Cllr Devine called for one-way traffic on the Knocknamona Road next to Little Angels leading to the N56.

“I believe this would help relieve school traffic congestion and that traffic coming up the N56 could turn left into the school,” he said. “The way traffic congestion is in Letterkenny, everything that can help should be explored.”

Sinn Féin councillor Gerry McMonagle highlighted the lack of a Town Bus service in Letterkenny and called for an “urgent meeting” with the National Transport Authority (NTA).

He stressed that the motion was “imperative” and expressed disappointment that Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, has not yet followed up on an invitation to visit Letterkenny.

Independent Cllr Michael McBride also called for “an urgent meeting” to “consider all possible remedies” to Letterkenny traffic.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the answer provided, which ultimately suggested “the appropriate focus at this stage is on progressing the delivery” of planned road projects.

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