Home News Residents block road after stolen car incident

Residents block road after stolen car incident

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

CONCERNED parents in Ballymun took matters into their own hands last week in an effort to block a road outside their homes where a young child had almost been knocked down by a stolen car. The fearful parents of Carton Drive reverted to people power as they feel representations they’ve made to the council have gone unheard. Residents along the road said “enough was enough” when a young child almost got knocked down by a robbed car last week. “We had to block the road off,” said Carton Drive resident John Raynor. “The final straw came when a three-year-old kid was nearly hit by a robbed car. There’s about a 15-foot skid mark on the road which just goes to show what speed the car was travelling at. “The driver went on to pull handbrake turns on the road. “All the residents just got together after that and we decided that we had to do something.” Mr Raynor said residents had signed and submitted a petition to the council asking for ‘slow’ signs and ramps to be put in place along the 70-metre stretch. “We never heard anything from the council,” the father-of-one explained. “When we first moved into these houses three years ago we were told that the road outside would be a cul-de-sac. “We never got that; instead we have a narrow road that is being used like a motorway. It’s a shortcut for cars that head up to the St Margaret’s area.” He added: “Will it take a child to be killed on the road before something is done to ease the traffic and speed up this road?” Fellow parent and Carton Drive resident, Keith McGrath, described the road as a “death trap”. “It’s almost inevitable that there will be a serious accident there,” he told Northside People. “The road is far too small and it’s on a bad bend. There is no parking there for residents so the cars are parked on the street making it even narrower. “The younger people who are using this road as a shortcut are the biggest problem because they are acting like lunatics. There’s no consideration for the fact that there are children playing close by.” Local councillor Dessie Ellis (SF) said he is more than familiar with the problems on Carton Drive. “I asked the council over two years ago to put bollards or ramps on the road because the situation was so dangerous,” he explained. “I understand where the residents are coming from and their concerns are certainly justified. “The volumes of traffic aren’t particularly heavy but the road should never have been a through road in the first place. “We now have a situation where drivers are shortcutting at speed and there is a strong possibility that the situation will end in tragedy.” A spokesperson for Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL) said they are “constantly reviewing traffic issues in the Ballymun area” and that they will meet with residents this week to discuss their concerns. “The provision of a new road network, due later this year, to serve the North Poppintree area and M50 lands is likely to have a significant positive effect on traffic in the vicinity of Carton Estate,” the spokesperson said.