Donacarney residents opposed to siting of new bus stop

Residents living close to a new bus stop currently under construction in Donacarney have expressed safety concerns about its location and are also criticial of the lack of consultation in advance of works commencing.

Residents say there was no opportunity to voice their concerns and the first they knew about the bus stop was when construction started.

A meeting with a Meath County Council engineer on site last Wednesday did little to allay residents' concerns and Aisling Brennan who lives in Ard na Mara said the Council is determined that it will go ahead as planned. A community engagement sergeant also attended the meeting.

"The long and the short of it is that this is a self-certifying project. The council says all safety issues have been taken into consideration and it is a safe location but we really disagree," said Aisling.

She explained that their main concerns centre on the fact that the bus will be stopping on the road to allow passengers on and off the bus and that impatient drivers will overtake. She also said there is no pedestrian crossing for those crossing the road, and no traffic calming to slow down traffic.

"There is a high volume of traffic using the road especially at peak hours and there is already a lot of driver frustration.

"Cars already overtake on the continuous white line at Castleglen and the same thing is going to happen here. It is happening every day around the corner. People are impatient, driver frustration is a real thing."

She said even through there are speed limits and it is a school zone and there is a T-junction, "existing driver behaviour still mirrors that of a rural location".

Aisling added that part of the "heavily used and very successful cycle lane" used by many children going to nearby schools will also be removed to make way for the bus stop.

"We understand the need for infrastructure and serving the population but there are two bus stops within a couple of minutes walk. We can't understand the need for another one."

In a statement, a Meath County Council spokesperson said: "Meath County Council is currently advancing bus stop works across County Meath on behalf of the National Transport Authority.

"Part of this scheme includes the provision of the new bus stop adjacent to the Ard na Mara housing estate. Following representations from members of the public, the Council met to discuss this matter with local residents and local members of An Garda Síochána.

"The Council would like to assure the public that the works at this location have been designed in accordance with all relevant design and safety standards. A small section of the cycle track immediately adjacent to the bus stop will be converted from a segregated cycle track and footpath to a shared space. This is common practice in these circumstances.

"These works, and the wider programme of works included in this scheme, continues our commitment to improving the experience of public transport patrons across the county."