Renewed fears over speeding traffic along ‘upper road’ to Greencastle

Worried Greencastle residents are demanding that traffic calming measures be urgently installed along the ‘upper road’ to the seaside village.

Currently, the busy stretch of the L-1471 route – which passes the Cairn Theatre, Greencastle Community Centre, scores of homes, a pub, and a corner shop – has a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour.

However, residents say they are “seriously concerned” because cars, vans, and lorries are routinely being driven well over the 50kph limit.

A total of 156 people in the area have now signed a petition, calling on Donegal County Council to implement much-needed additional speed controls.

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Concerned local Sinn Fein member Toni Devine says speeding in such a built-up area is highly dangerous – and she’s calling for action without further delay.

“Going over the speed limit is bad enough, but on this road, there are three estates where people have to cross the road to use the local shop. There are parents and children crossing the road to reach the community centre. Do we have to wait for someone to be hurt?”

Many residents expressed their serious concerns when Toni was canvassing to become a County Councillor for Sinn Fein in North Inishowen last year. Several parents told her that they do not let their children play out near the road for fear of the speeding traffic.

She didn’t get voted in, but Toni remains keen to do something to help allay fears nonetheless. As such, the local Sinn Fein group organised a written petition, which has been taken around the houses and into the shop, securing 82 signatures.

“The group wants to thank the people who supported the petition, especially those who put up another online petition, which brought in an additional 74 signatures. A total of 156 signatures were gathered in all,” Toni explained.

It’s understood that the Council has now committed to installing traffic speed cameras along the upper road into Greencastle in the near future, in a bid to fully assess the extent of the problem.

However, one local resident, who has lived along the road all his life, fears that the Local Authority may not act until it’s too late.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein County Councillor Albert Doherty has pledged that his party will continue to press the Council into action.

“We have had too many accidents and deaths on Inishowen roads already. Why can we not put in measures to calm the traffic and prevent further accidents?” he asked.