Safety concerns sparks calls for Enfield cul-de-sac reinstatement

Fresh concerns have been raised over road safety in Enfield as councillors renewed calls for the reinstatement of a cul-de-sac on the New Road.

The issue was discussed at a recent meeting of Trim Municipal District where councillors debated the future of the L62274, also known locally as the New Road, in Enfield.

Independent councillor Padraig Coffey had asked Meath County Council to consider reinstating the cul-de-sac given that lands adjacent to the road which were previously zoned “have now been almost fully developed”.

During the discussion, Cllr Coffey warned that serious safety concerns remained at the junction.

“It is a tragedy waiting to happen,” he said.

The councillor said there had already been two fatalities in the area since the bypass opened and argued that visibility at the junction was dangerous for motorists.

“When you look coming out, it’s a 90-metre visibility line when you’re coming out,” he said.

Fine Gael councillor Joe Fox said he had originally proposed a motion on the matter during a previous council term and said there had been broad agreement locally that the road should become a cul-de-sac again.

“The road was retrofitted as a through road,” he said.

“There’s not the room for footpaths.”

Cllr Fox said the road design was no longer suitable given increased traffic levels and nearby development.

In a written response to councillors, Meath County Council said proposed changes to the road could be considered premature due to future development plans in the area.

Officials said Variation No. 5 of the Meath County Development Plan includes proposals to bring forward adjacent lands for residential development.

“As such, the Transportation Department does not intend to change the status of this road at this time,” the response stated.

The council also noted that any closure proposal would require a statutory public consultation process and warned that residents living south of the Enfield bypass could be impacted by any changes and “may not support the proposal”.

- Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme