Six years of Summerhill roadworks

Dear sir - I wrote on 1st September to Mr Tom Dowling, the Meath county manager, regarding what I felt was the dangerous placement of temporary traffic lights at a dangerous bend on the Kilcock/Summerhill Road. I sent a copy by fax and a copy by post. This was my fourth time to write to him in as many years about the dangerous placement of these lights which appear from time to time. I felt in view of the terrible bus tragedy at the road works in Kentstown, Meath County Council would value life and be interested in avoiding any future embarrassment. I have also in the past seen accidents on this very bend. The council has constructed a fine new road to and from this dangerous bottleneck of a village which is also unfinished and now more dangerous than ever. I was anxious to avoid tragedy. I did not want to wake up on a Monday morning to hear the news of a terrible accident in this area. Imagine my surprise to get an email today, 16th September, 15 days later from a lady in the Meath county managers office telling me: "I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 1st September, 2010 and note contents of same. This matter has been referred to our Health & Safety Department of their immediate attention." Roughly translated I take this to mean, go away, mind your own business, we are in secure well paid jobs with no sense of urgency and you are just annoying us …… I get the message loud and clear. It's really time the council got to grips with these road works, ongoing since late 2004. Summerhill village is like an obstacle course, unfinished roadway with the manholes protruding in the main street. Cars swerve around these in a dangerous fashion whilst children walk to school along the road. Can someone shout STOP? Yours, Paul Egan, Tullaghanogue, Trim.