How will a new plan for traffic in Longford town impact on local business?
Over the past few years, business has prospered and the population has grown in Longford town.
The past few years have been a success story for Longford town.
Along with success for the town has come chaos and Longford now has a very serious traffic problem. Throughout the day, the traffic is heavy and between five o'clock and six thirty, the streets are choked. New measures attempting to ease traffic congestion have already been introduced such as a one-way street system. However, more needs to be done.
The Longford Urban Council has just passed a traffic plan but it has not received outright approval. The plan means the extension of one-way streets and a new ring road. The council believes that the plan will work but the Longford Chamber of Commerce believes that if it is implemented, businesses in the town will suffer.
Michael Killen of Longford County Council says that the growing volume of traffic has resulted in congestion and something needs to be done. He says the plan will work and through the provision of alternative parking, people passing through the town will be encouraged to stop to do their shopping.
Matthew Farrell of Longford Chamber of Commerce agrees that something needs to be done about the existing traffic problems. However, he says that no parking restrictions should be imposed until additional off-street parking is provided. He refers back to the McCarthy report of 1977 which made a similar suggestion. Matthew Farrell says that the plan fails to take into consideration the livelihoods of any of the people in the town. By restricting car parking, the council is reducing the number of people who will come to the town.
One local taxi driver describes the traffic situation as "chaotic" and says that a traffic light system might help to resolve the issue, a view also held by the chamber of commerce.
The new plan passed the Longford Urban Council by a vote of four to three. It now requires Garda approval.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 2 September 1982. The reporter is Andrew Kelly.
