A FORMAL safety review has been requested for Sherins Cross, Dromin near Kilmallock after a number of serious collisions at the busy rural junction prompted fresh concern among councillors and residents.

At the November meeting of the Cappamore–Kilmallock Municipal District, Cllr PJ Carey supported a joint motion from himself and Cllr Greg Conway calling for an official inspection of the crossroads to determine what measures are needed to make the area safer.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Carey said the situation has escalated in recent weeks. “There was a bad crash two or three weeks ago,” he explained.

“An elderly woman coming out of Dromin, turning for Kilmallock, was hit by a driver travelling from Kilmallock to Bruff. The sightlines are poor enough in fairness. There’s no suggestion the man was speeding or doing anything wrong it’s just a dangerous junction.”

Read More: New lease of life for landmark building on the banks of the River Shannon

Cllr Carey said locals regularly report difficulty exiting the crossroads safely. “You wouldn’t want to be hanging about you literally have a second or two to get out of there” .

The area is also heavily used by school buses, which pick up children at the junction each morning, increasing the urgency for safety improvements.

While major infrastructural works would require significant funding, Cllr Carey said he is prepared to allocate General Municipal Allocation (GMA) funding to begin traffic-calming measures if necessary. “You’re never going to get a ramp on a busy road like that,” he said. “But you can slow people down. We’ll work together to put money towards it.”

The motion will be brought forward at the district’s next meeting, where councillors hope an inspection will set in motion a plan to finally address long-standing safety fears at Sherins Cross.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW