Traffic chaos following dropped tank of diesel

TRAFFIC chaos ensued last Friday in Palmerstown after a truck dropped its tank of diesel, despite restrictions in place to prevent 7.5 tonne trucks using the route, according to Cllr Guss O’Connell (Ind).

This has been a longstanding issue on Kennelsfort Road for residents and Palmerstown Community Council, frequently raised at policing and council meetings over the years.

The Echo understands a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) dropped its tank of diesel on Kennelsfort Road in the early hours of Friday morning (September 22).

“Luckily, no one was injured,” said Cllr O’Connell.

“We don’t know why it happened, but it caused traffic chaos in both directions of Kennelsfort Road Upper for several hours. Normally this road is bumper to bumper, but on Friday it was just at a stand still. For some reason, there was no advance warning on approach roads which made the situation worse.

“Of course this HGV should not have been on Kennelsfort Road as there is a 7.5 tonne restriction on most of it. Unfortunately, despite the ongoing complaining of the Palmerstown Community Council traffic committee, HGVs travel up and down Upper Kennelsfort Road with impunity morning, noon and night.”

Although there is a local campaign for a 3.5 tonne restriction, O’Connell says existing restrictions are not enforced and that he has explored every possible option possible to get South Dublin County Council to address the issue “without any success to date.”

“Residents on Kennelsfort Road Upper complain regularly about sleep disturbances night after night and this latest incident only goes to highlight the hazards of heavy goods vehicles in a residential area,” said Cllr O’Connell.

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