Cork Council's litter warden removes anti-speed signs erected by concerned residents

Cork City Council has removed homemade signage put up by northside residents as part of a campaign for safer roads.

Residents of Ballyhooly Rd and Summerhill previously told The Echo that traffic frequently travels above the 50km/h limit in their residential area, leading to safety concerns, which prompted them to make their own signs asking drivers to slow down.

Ciara Eccles, who lives on Ballyhooly Rd, told The Echo that the council had removed all of their signs, including those which were placed in people’s gardens, and said that they were litter.

She said speeding has already increased on the road again, having gone down when the signs were erected.

A council spokesperson confirmed that the signage had been removed by its litter warden, but said it is working on road safety solutions.

Ms Eccles said they were “disappointed that our signs are not allowed remain despite the visible and noted difference they made to speeding on the road”.

“The worrying matter of the council workers entering private property without permission or warning to remove signage is also concerning for residents,” she said.

“We have had to take matters into our own hands in order to attempt to reduce excess speeding on our road, as the council have no speed signs on the 2.1km stretch inbound from the North Ring Rd to MacCurtain St, and only one sign at the Glen Valley Park outbound.

“We are working to raise awareness of the residential nature of our area, protect the safety of our residents young and old, and especially those who require to cross the road between Dillons Cross and St Luke’s Cross due to on-street parking. We only want what our neighbours on Old Youghal Rd and The Glen have — clear signage and traffic-calming measures in a 30km residential zone.”

She added that describing the homemade signage as “litter” was “disheartening and disappointing to the residents who have seen a reduction in vehicular speed and received huge support and positive feedback from road users since these signs were erected in late August”.

She said other signage advertising businesses and schools has not been removed.

“The sentiment of the residents is that the council are trying to silence a campaign which highlights their years of ignoring this issue in order to benefit vehicular access to the city on this residential road, which is completely unsuitable for heavy traffic and speeding vehicles,” she said.

“Recent media attention and support for the campaign shows that the general public are in favour of the homemade signs, and the vast majority do not view them as litter. Ballyhooly Rd and Summerhill North residents emphatically reiterate our pleas to Cork City Council to act fast before there is a preventable road death on our road.”

She said they will continue to work to get “these measures put in place as fast as possible”.

A council spokesperson told The Echo: “Signage on the Ballyhooly Rd was removed by the litter warden, further to complaints received. Cork City Council have a postering protocol that all members of the public are required to follow. Any posters removed from private property will be returned to the property owner. Cork City Council are fully aware of the residents’ speed-reduction campaign.

“A number of representatives from residents’ associations in the area had a recent meeting with Cork City Council to voice their concerns.”

The spokesperson said that having listened to residents, the council agreed to carry out a traffic survey, which is under way, and look again at a location for a driver feedback sign.

They said: “A contractor is due to be appointed shortly for the Safe Routes to School scheme for St Luke’s National School, which will introduce further traffic calming in the area. A review of current signage in the area is also currently under way.”

They said they will also look at repainting road markings from St Luke’s Cross to Dillons Cross “as soon as possible, weather and resources permitting”, and a proposed pedestrian crossing on Ballyhooly Rd near Gordon’s Hill is open for public consultation.