PROGRESS MADE AT SPEEDING PUBLIC MEETING

Further information/comment: Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, 086-2202029

HOPEFUL OF PROGRESS AT CLONAKILTY SECOND PUBLIC MEETING ON RECKLESS DRIVING

The second public meeting on the issue of “reckless driving” in residential areas and approach roads in Clonakilty was held last Thursday evening with Superintendent Pat Maher and Sgt. Eamonn Brady of Clonakilty Gárda Station, Mayor Cllr. Anthony McDermott, the recently-elected Chairperson of Clonakilty Joint Policing Committee Cllr. Humphrey Deegan and over 20 concerned residents and businesspeople in attendance.

The meeting was a follow up of a similar one held two weeks previously and was once again organised by Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, who welcomed everyone. He outlined some of the issues which were raised at the previous meeting, which were speeding in built-up areas and approach roads to the town; reckless late night activities by car owners in Deasy’s Car Park in particular, and the loud exhausts that cause much annoyance for many, particularly late at night. That meeting agreed to invite Garda representatives and all nine town councillors to the second one, and he conveyed apologies from Cllrs. John Loughnan and Anne Cullinane. (There was no communication from the other absent four town councillors).

The meeting opened to the floor with members of the audience raising a variety of issues of concern to themselves and the areas where they live. Superintendent Maher replied to all matters, advising that unless the Gardaí are made aware of the problem at the time they are happening, it can be difficult for the Gardaí to pursue them. He also pointed out in response to one person that if the Gardaí don’t respond immediately when something is reported, the likelihood is that they are dealing with an emergency. But he emphasised the need for residents to report issues and he assured them that “Clonakilty is a safe and peaceful town and is well policed”.

He backed up his statements with statistics relating to various traffic offences going back to 1995, which were lower than in many similar sized towns in the country. On the matter of loud exhausts on cars, Supt. Maher said that his information was that if they have passed the NCT then there is little that can be done. He did point out that the Clonakilty Gardaí do not have the equipment that could measure the loudness of exhausts, and therefore no case could be proven against anyone. He also assured people that reckless driving had been apprehended in Deasy’s car park in recent times.

Supt. Maher also said, “There will be no zero tolerance policing in Clonakilty”, as Gardaí would continue to deal with each issue using their own discretion, based on all circumstances. He pointed out that Clonakilty was a tourist town dependent on outsiders coming in to enjoy their break, and common sense had to prevail to ensure this continued.

It was raised at the meeting that the same issues are arising in the same places constantly, and it should be easy enough to apprehend culprits by proactive policing. The Gardaí were urged to monitor roads in built up areas, as opposed to roads and places where there was no danger for residents or pedestrians as they simply did no exist a lot of the time where speed traps are often located. It was also suggested that the Gardaí would do these random checks for short periods at different locations regularly. People were not expecting 24 hour surveillance.

It was also stated by a couple of people that when they report incidences to the Garda Station, they have never received any information back about the matters, and it was suggested that that two-way communication would ease many peoples perceived inaction on matters when they report them. The Superintendent and Sgt. Brady noted peoples concerns and pledged to try to address them in the time ahead.

Meanwhile, Cllr. Humphry Deegan, who was elected as the Chairperson of the Clonakilty Joint Policing Committee at the May council meeting held two days before, outlined to the public meeting how that forum would work. It would be a place for people’s problems to be aired and addressed as best possible.

Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin encouraged the public to attend its meetings (as observers) and to contact the chairperson with written issues they want to have put on the agendas. Mayor McDermott welcomed the public meeting, and urged more visibility of Gardaí, and hoped the JPC would mean a big positive difference.

The meeting concluded with everyone encouraged to report every incident that they feel is unlawful to the Garda Station on 023-8821570; the Gardaí pledging to deal with the issues raised and apply action where possible; better communication; and an encouragement to everyone to engage with the Joint Policing Committee when it becomes active.

Cllr. Ó Súilleabháin closed the meeting, thanking everyone for their contributions, and the attendance of the Gardaí and public representatives who turned up. As far as he was concerned, people now have the knowledge and the power to help themselves and the mechanism of the JPC to allay concerns if they are not happy with progress. He said he would not be organising any further public meetings about this issue, saying as a community with everyone working together in the one direction, many of the problems can by reduced if not totally eliminated.