FOLLOWING NEWS of a serious road traffic collision at Tomsilla, on the Gorey-Courtown road, last Tuesday morning, Cllr. Malcolm Byrne launched an attack on Wexford County Council’s gritting policies in North Wexford.

Cllr. Byrne is concerned that in times of wintry weather it fails to grit the Gorey to Courtown road and only does the Gorey to Carnew road as far as Craanford.

“For a number of years, we’ve sought a more extensive road gritting programme, but at the very least both the Gorey to Courtown and Gorey to Carnew roads should be done.

“While there is no guarantee that gritting the Courtown road this morning could have prevented the accident, it would certainly make the road safer.

“These are both busy roads,” said Cllr. Byrne, who added, “There are 5,000 people living in the Courtown/Riverchapel area and many rely on the road to Gorey to get to work, to school or to shop.”

Cllr. Byrne said there have been too many incidents, especially at Tomsilla, but he believes that serious concerns to continue to be ignored by officials.

“On the Carnew road, it is gritted to Craanford from Gorey but no further. However, once you cross over the Wicklow border at Carnew, it is gritted again,” he said.

Some weeks ago a number of people attended a public meeting in Askamore Community Centre to discuss safety issues on the Carnew-Gorey road and action, which includes a reduced speed limit, was promised.

Last week, concerned locals who spearheaded that public meeting went on Pat Kenny’s morning radio show on RTE to express concerns about the state of the Carnew-Gorey road, which has been the scene of fatal accidents in the past year.

Cllr. Byrne said it is a matter of urgent safety concern that the roads be made as safe as possible.

He said that it is important that motorists drive safely, but the Wexford County Council must also look at dealing with the gritting problem.

Full story in THE GOREY ECHO.