Treacherous road could cost local candidates votes

By JACQUELINE HOGGE LOCAL politicians are being warned they will lose vital electoral support in the Belclare/Claretuam area unless they deliver on promises they made over two years ago to prioritise a section of the R333 road, which residents say is treacherous.[private] The one kilometre stretch of the road, that leads from the N17 junction as far as Belclare GAA pitch has been the scene of several collisions in recent years. So far this year alone, three cars have been pulled out of a ditch at one of the worst sections of the road, where a four foot embankment has been left exposed following the collapse of a barbed wire fence in one accident. A number of blind bends on the stretch of road have resulted in hazardous conditions for motorists, the number of which has increased in recent years with the influx of residential developments in the village. The development of all weather pitches in the area has also increased traffic on the road, which people living near have described as lethal. Despite several local councillors supporting the residents' campaign back in 2008, the road was not included in the Department of Transport's Specific Improvement Grants, nor did it feature in the latest round of National Roads Authority Grants. Election candidates Sean Canney, Colm Keaveney and Tom McHugh all pledged to support the road realignment but with no progress in two years, all three are likely to face angry voters as they canvass the area over the coming weeks. 'The people of Belclare and surrounding areas deserve better and are very disappointed by the broken promises of local area councillors,' said Tommy Casserly, spokesperson for the Belclare residents. 'This is an extremely dangerous accident black spot and over the past few months as many as nine cars and jeeps have left the road, many of whom were driven by local people. 'We met with senior road engineers from Galway County Council, along with several area councillors back in 2008 to highlight our concerns. 'We were told local landowners would be contacted to negotiate the acquisition of land at the most dangerous sections of the road, however nothing has happened since. 'Recent accidents have led to barbed wire fencing being torn town and the grass verge ripped up on certain sections and it is only a matter of time before the stakes that are left exposed rip through a vehicle and cause serious injury to someone.' Costings Official costings of the project have yet to be carried out but it is believed the road alignment could cost in the region of €1 million. Independent councillor Sean Canney, who lives in Belclare, rejected the claim that local representatives had not delivered on their promises. 'The fact of this is that we've made submissions every year to have this section of the R333 included in the programme for regional roads but the reality is the money isn't there,' he said. 'This is a regional road, so it's entirely different from the NRA funding announced last week for national primary and secondary routes. The money for this road has to come from the Department of Transport, that two years ago withdrew €200,000 of funding it allocated for the R333 at Castlehackett, only a month after the money had been sanctioned. 'Galway County Council saw €9 million cut from its funding for roads in 2008 and, as we know, money remains in short supply. 'The Department of Transport do not see this road as a priority, but we continue to lobby for funds, and with the programme for regional roads due to be published later this month, we have to wait and see if the R333 will be granted any funding. 'I appreciate the frustration of those who drive this road regularly but it is not fair to say nothing is being done.' Mr Casserly said he has offered some land at the front of his home, which is on one of the most dangerous bends in the road, free of charge for the road to be realigned. 'In the interests of safety and to see this work done sooner rather than later I'm prepared to give whatever land is needed to see this road realigned,' he said. 'Even if there isn't any money to widen the road we need something as it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed. 'The embankment needs to be reinforced so that if cars do leave the road they don't face a four or five foot drop, and a steel barrier needs to be erected to stop cars leaving the road in the first place. 'We are being very clear to the councillors who promised us their support over two years ago, that if they want our votes in the upcoming election, then they need to deliver on their promises.'[/private]