By Dan Walsh
Gorey Cllr Darragh McDonald has urged Wexford County Council to deny Uisce Éireann road opening licences unless proper traffic management can be guaranteed, after motorists around Gorey faces major disruption.
Cllr McDonald said: “Uisce Éireann are currently carrying out works on two major roads into Gorey, with temporary traffic lights taking over ten minutes to change, even during rush hour. This is simply not acceptable.
“Everyone recognises the need for investment in infrastructure, and nobody is suggesting that essential works shouldn’t take place. However, there has to be a reasonable expectation that disruption to the public will be properly managed and minimised where possible.
“If Uisce Éireann cannot adequately resource these works and put effective traffic management arrangements in place, then Wexford County Council should be refusing them permission to open the road until they can.
“What we are seeing at the moment is lazy and ineffective traffic management, with ordinary people paying the price through unnecessary delays on their daily commutes, school runs and journeys to work.
“If a private developer was causing this level of disruption, the Council would rightly be demanding immediate improvements. I see absolutely no reason why a public body should be held to a different standard.
“We cannot have a situation where major routes into Gorey are effectively brought to a standstill because nobody has taken responsibility for ensuring traffic can move efficiently.
“The message needs to be simple: if you want permission to open our roads, you must demonstrate that you can manage the traffic properly. If you can’t, the licence shouldn’t be granted,” concluded Cllr McDonald.
