Cork County Council is to remove ‘three tonne' vehicle restriction marks on signposts along the road between Ballycrovane Cross and Ardgroom village, as soon as they have the available resources.
CORK County Council is to remove ‘three tonne’ vehicle restriction marks on signposts along the road between Ballycrovane Cross and Ardgroom village, as soon as they have the available resources.
This move follows a recent motion by Bantry-based Cllr Danny Collins (Ind) who said that the restriction was causing huge difficulties for truck drivers and other delivery vehicles travelling that route.
Cllr Danny Collins, who had previously raised the motion at a meeting of the Municipal District of West Cork, has welcomed this new development.
‘This is good news for all those driving in that area and I’m hoping it will be done in the very near future as it’s having an effect on delivery trucks and camper vans using that route,’ said Cllr Collins.
‘It was residents along that route in townlands such as Ballycrovane, Kilcatherine and Pallas who approached me to request Cork County Council to remove the three tonne restriction marks on the signposts which are dotted along this route.’
Cllr Collins said that there are a lot of farmers along this route and that they have found that delivery trucks carrying fertilisers or feed stuff, which are over three tonnes, were refusing to use the route because their insurance would not cover them.
He also pointed out that it could have drastic effects on the harvesting of mussels at Pallas Pier.
‘Even ambulances, which weigh over three tonnes might have difficulty as the driver may not be covered.
‘There was also a situation recently where an overseas furniture removal truck refused to travel the route because he said his insurance wouldn’t cover him. So in the end the truck had to be off loaded there and the contents carried to its destination,’ he added.
Executive engineer Aidan Prendergast said having investigated the matter in both the Castletownbere and Skibbereen offices and with road management, it has been determined that the signs were erected without recourse to the Roads Act.
‘As these signs were erected at the behest of person unknown and without the benefit of the correct statutory procedures, the removal of the signs will be carried out as soon as resources will allow,’ said Mr Prendergast.
