A Mayo community 'almost imprisoned' by new road construction works

THE plight of residents in Islandeady being 'almost imprisoned' in their homes due to a road closure for construction works on the new Westport-Turlough road was raised at a Castlebar Municipal District meeting today.

Concern has been voiced about a main road into the village being closed for a number of months to facilitate the multi-million euro project.

A proposal by Councillor Michael Kilcoyne for a meeting to be held to resolve the issue was agreed.

Describing the situation as 'disgraceful', he said a 'coach and four' was being driven through the community and he wondered why in a project costing millions a temporary road could not be put in place to accommodate locals.

People had to put in huge extra mileage, such as getting to schools or for funerals to get to the local cemetery.

Councillor Blackie Gavin said he was disappointed that councillors had not been invited to a meeting that had taken place in the community. And he supported the call for another meeting to resolve the issues as soon as possible.

A meeting involving road design, TII, the contractor and community council was attended by local Councillor Martin McLoughlin, but then another took place to which he said he was not invited and he was disappointed.

Councillor Ger Deere made the point that it was unfair that councillors had been criticised, but they did not know anything about any meeting.

He was shocked there was not more engagement. Councillors needed to know what is happened, noting: 'It comes back on us'.