'People have had enough' as Letterkenny traffic worsens
A critical review of the active travel plan and the redevelopment of the Market Square is being called for
A public meeting was held on August 8 at the Station House Hotel to address Letterkenny’s gridlocked traffic.
Donegal’s Aontú Rep Mary T. Sweeney, who organised the meeting, says, “It is beyond unacceptable that the North West capital’s town is losing out due to the impact of severe traffic congestion, road chaos, and safety concerns. And poor planning by someone. Who is responsible? We need to know that.
“The continued frustration that people are feeling was evidenced by the large turnout on a Saturday night in August.
“I have been inundated with correspondence from locals who say they dread having to drive into Letterkenny, such are the queues they have to endure. So many people say only for the fact that they have to use the hospital they wouldn’t come near the town.
“One shop owner talked of having one customer in total that day, generating a €40 sale. How on earth can a business survive that? The stress and strain on people is absolutely awful. A local taxi driver spoke of the toll the gridlock is having on his drivers’ mental health. People have had enough.”
The local Chamber of Commerce has also raised concerns this week that the ‘ongoing traffic chaos’ is causing a significant impact on local businesses and commuters.
Following discussion at the Letterkenny Business owners meeting held at the Station House Hotel, a campaign was launched by the Aontú rep Mary T Sweeney to get Donegal County Councillors and Council to deliver an independent critical review of the active travel plan and planning in Letterkenny and other planning issues, including the redevelopment of the Market Square.
Ms Sweeney says, “The only way forward was for a critical planning review for Letterkenny to be conducted by an external Traffic Planning specialist, as there was no confidence any solutions would be found locally. The Council is not listening to the people and the business owners who are suffering
“One business owner recounted the numerous references in Town planning design courses identifying Letterkenny as how not to plan. A local major bus operator described her drivers’ difficulties in navigating the new road layout and referenced several examples and the difficulties navigating with multiple other school coaches at the same destination.
"Another shop owner showed a video of the empty Letterkenny main street, that day, a Saturday at 6 pm and this is during peak summer holiday season, while the major Summer Sessions festival is being held in Letterkenny, offering a marquee capable of hosting a series of events up to 4,999 capacity - with Paul Smith, Deacon Blue and others- running on the edge of town.”