Deputy Pearse Doherty is calling on both Donegal County Council and the Department of Transport to provide proper pedestrian and wheelchair user access into and out of Bunbeg village at the Clady River crossing in the village.
Deputy Doherty, who has this week written to the Local Authority in relation to proposals to erect a pedestrian foot bridge at the site, will this week be raising the project with the Minister for Transport, Shane Ross.
He said there is a need to address the lack of suitable and safe pedestrian access along the route.
“For some time now, local residents have been raising concerns surrounding the limited pedestrian access into and out of Bunbeg village at the Clady River.
“Currently, walkers and wheelchair users wishing to enter and exit the village from the site must deviate out onto the main road using the existing road bridge which spans the Clady River along the R257 route.
“Obviously, not only do the current lack of pedestrian friendly crossing options present a challenge for those walking or in wheelchairs, but it also poses a very real threat to their safety when crossing what is a very busy section of road.
“This is particularly worrying when you consider that older people often use the route when coming into the village, as too might pupils from the nearby primary school.
“I have today written to Donegal County Council asking how it proposes to remedy this issue and to address road safety at the site as this is now very much a matter of urgency, and I understand that my colleague Cllr John Sheamais Ó Fearraigh has also in the past been making representations to the local authority regarding this matter also.
“Furthermore, I will this week be tabling a motion to the Minister for Transport to ask if his Department has received any funding applications for the erection of a pedestrian foot bridge at the Clady River crossing, adjacent to the existing road bridge – a proposal which had been mooted in the past.
“Clearly, such a project is badly needed in Bunbeg to not only dramatically improve access into and out of the village, but crucially also to ensure the safety of all residents and road users.”
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