Swift action now called for because of ongoing roadworks in Tallaght
By Mary Dennehy
IMMEDIATE action has been called for in relation to ongoing roadworks in Tallaght village, works, which many people believe, have been back-pedalling since starting last March.
As reported in The Echo over recent months, businesses, residents, motorists and pedestrians have all been negatively impacted on due to the works, which are constructing 3km of cycle corridor between Tallaght and Templeogue.
Last week, this paper spoke to older residents living on Main Road who claim to be trapped in their homes and isolated from friends and family due to the length of time it is taking the work to be complete, with the path surfaces also posing dangers for those walking with a stick.
This week, local Tallaght councillors Mick Duff (Labour Party) and Charlie O’Connor (Fianna Fáil) have demanded immediate action from South Dublin County Council and SIAC construc-tion in relation to the ongoing works on Main Road and in Tallaght Village.
Cllr Duff told The Echo: “Both of us have been representing concerns since the contract started, the effects on the community have been disastrous.
“Local residents, many of whom are elderly, have been seriously upset and inconvenienced and many stories have emerged about the hardship caused to those residents by the construction works.
“The business community has also been seriously affected and business has been clearly lost in our village.”
Both Cllr Duff and Cllr O’Connor have held a series of meetings with senior council management and executives directly associated with the project and have sought “binding assurances” regard-ing the future performance of the contract.
Cllr O’Connor said: “At these meetings, among the actions agreed were the immediate re-instatement of the disabled bays outside Bank of Ireland, an agreement that the senior roads engineer would now communicate directly with residents of Main Road and the business community to keep them fully informed on developments to deal effectively with any problems which arise”.
He added; “We both insisted that the completion of phase one, which covers works from the Old Greenhills Road to the entrance of Bancroft Estate, would be properly managed to the satisfaction of the community.
“While acknowledging that the works to date have caused serious disruption, SIAC officials assured myself and Cllr Duff that the finished product has been designed to enhance the village and provide a safe environment for cyclists.”
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