100 signatures reached
To: Clare County Council
Improve accessibility Clonlara
We, the undersigned residents of Clonlara residing on the R463 road 1 km and 2 km from the village of Clonlara, wish to petition for urgent action regarding the safety and accessibility of our community to Clonlara village.
We are currently disconnected from our village and community due to the lack of a safe pedestrian route. The R463 is a busy thoroughfare with an existing speed limit of 80 km/h, and despite being within such a short walking distance, there is no footpath connecting our homes to Clonlara village. This situation creates a significant safety hazard and effectively prevents us from accessing essential village services and amenities, including:
- The local bus services to Limerick city and Killaloe etc. Despite proximity to Clonlara village there is currently no safe and accessible pedestrian route between the two areas. Residents are forced to walk,unsafe, and vehicle- congested roads, putting lives at risk- particularly children, the elderly and individuals with disabilities. University students who wish to access bus services safely are unable to do so, removing residing at home as an option for Limerick University & technical college students.
- The local school. Children from our area cannot walk or cycle to school, contributing to significant traffic congestion on the Clonlara Bridge every morning. Many families, if given the choice, would choose to combat this by walking or cycling thus reducing the longstanding traffic issues experienced by all Clonlara residents every morning.
- The local GAA pitches, community centers, and churches.
- The new greenway intended to connect Limerick, Clonlara, O'Briensbridge, Castleconnell , Killaloe and Scarriff. We will be unable to access this new amenity without driving to it. This is prohibitive for many elderly who would have to lift and mount bikes to cars to drive a short distance and defeats the purpose of promoting active travel and climate action goals.
This lack of safe passage has a negative impact on the local community, its economy, and the environment. We believe that improving accessibility would not only enhance the safety and well-being of residents but also help local businesses, such as the recently closed local shop and the remaining bars and restaurants, by allowing more people to access them on foot.
Community accessibility is vital for fostering a sense of belonging because it ensures everyone, regardless of their age, physical or cognitive abilities, can participate fully in community life. When public spaces, services, and events are designed to be accessible, they remove barriers that might otherwise isolate individuals.
By making it easier for all community members to navigate their surroundings, communities signal that everyone is a valued member. This inclusive environment not only allows individuals to engage in social, economic, and cultural activities, but it also creates a shared experience of mutual respect and acceptance. Ultimately, true belonging comes from feeling that a community is built for you, and accessibility is the foundation of that feeling.
We therefore call upon Clare County Council to take immediate steps to remedy this critical issue. We request that you:
- Install a dedicated footpath including pedestrian crossings along the R463 from the village of Clonlara as far as Aughboy. Thus creating a safe route for pedestrians, cyclists, and mobility scooter users living along this route.
- Reduce the speed limit on this stretch of road from 80 km/h to 60 km/h to ensure the safety of all road users, including pedestrians currently crossing in hazardous conditions and vehicles entering and exiting the areas listed.
- Liaise with Bus Eireann to install official bus stops at Monaskeha / Aughboy to improve accessibility
By taking these actions, you will not only address a significant safety concern but also foster a more connected and inclusive community. A footpath and a reduced speed limit will allow residents to safely access their village, supporting local businesses and enhancing the overall well-being of our community.
Clare County council spends countless hours and funds promoting health via programs such as Active Travel, Healthy Clare etc. We believe the request to support this initiative falls under the scope of Clare County Councils current mission and goals around community health and could be considered under one of the many funds and schemes designed to support this. We also believe this request falls under Clare County Council’s duty of care around safe accessibility.
Additionally this project could be supported under one of the many climate action goals and funds due to the reduction in car travel it will support. The above means that this project could come under one of many remits, increasing the likelihood of available funding to support it.
Finally as mentioned it will also contribute to reduced traffic at Clonlara school each morning, which has been a long standing issue for all Clonlara residents and will only get worse with the addition of two new housing estates to Clonlara village. We thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
R463 Clonlara residents
Why is this important?
The Clonlara residing along the R463 would like to request the support of all residents of Clonlara for the following reasons:
- Improved accessibility for those of us at these addresses means more economic activity in Clonlara village.
- It would allow us to access bars and restaurants. It would also create a higher footfall for the village shop which has now closed twice previously due to this challenge. It would increase bus service user numbers thus ensuring the service is not cancelled and more bus services may be added.
- It would reduce traffic at Clonlara bridge as many would choose to walk and cycle such a short distance rather than sit on the bridge in traffic.
- It would bring members from your community who are currently not spending time in the village due to a lack of accessibility across the bridge and create a more unified community.
We would also like to request the support of those who have accessibility concerns for relatives living in the area.
We thank you all for your support on this matter.