Letterkenny Councillors have expressed concern over active travel infrastructure impacting emergency service response times.
Plans are underway to designate new pedestrian and cycle lanes on the Kilmacrennan Road from Letterkenny University Hospital to the Knocknamona roundabout.
It’s feared that the works, which would involve narrowing of the road and the removal of turning lanes, could impede traffic.
Donegal County Councillors were asked to approve the works today, but instead, Letterkenny area representatives called for further discussion on the plans.
Cllr Ciaran Brogan said that members of the ambulance service and hospital staff “have some concerns” and felt they were not properly consulted.
“There is more to a consultation than a tick-the-box exercise,” Cllr Brogan said.
Public consultation on the scheme launched in December and submissions were invited up to Friday, 9th February 2024. An online meeting was held with stakeholders last week.
Cllr Brogan said that a lot of recent meetings have been as a result of phone calls he made to senior management in the hospital and the ambulance service.
He said that more engagement is needed with people at the coalface of this route, adding “When the Four Lane plan was being adopted in Letterkenny, I know at the time we had huge concerns around the ambulance access to it, we were given a lot of assurances at that time there wouldn’t be any issues.
“But all you have do to is speak to the ambulance service today and they will tell you there are massive issues around the ambulance times to their destinations because of the barrier to the Four Lane.
“We need to be careful here and we need to be honest about what is achievable,” Cllr Brogan said.
The Kilmacrenan Road provides access to the Letterkenny Town Park, LUH campus, Errigal College, Little Angels School and the soon-to-be-built Community Nursing Unit.
Cllr Brogan said: “There’s probably no stretch of road that has as many traffic movements and we need to make sure we get it right.”
Cllr Liam Blaney told the council that “public consultation is not working” and his discussions with the emergency, fire and ambulance service proved some people were totally unaware of the proposals.
Donal Coyle added that he has “strong reservations” about access to the hospital for emergency services.
“I’m not sure that enough thought went into that,” he said.
Cllr Coyle said that the active travel project is a very good idea, “but what isn’t taken into consideration is the narrowing of the roads to such an extent that it impedes a lot of drivers,” he added.
“We don’t have any form of town bus service that is fit for purpose in Letterkenny. We don’t have any park and ride facility and no park and cycle facility and we need much more discussion before we go ahead with it,” Cllr Coyle said.
“This is one stretch of road that we can’t get wrong,” added Cllr Michael McBride.
The council stated that copies of the proposals were sent to numerous bodies.
Bryan Cannon, Director of Service for Roads and Transportation, told members that Letterkenny University Hospital, the Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service were all directly consulted on the proposals and their submissions were invited. Discussions also took place with staff in adjoining public sector facilities including Errigal College and Little Angels School.
Letterkenny members have agreed to hold a special meeting before the deadline for approval of the plan in April.
