Council turns down request to take charge of Kiltoom road

by David Flynn

Council officials have turned down a request from South Roscommon residents for the local authority to take charge of the maintenance of a private road in Cornaseer, Kiltoom.

The September meeting of Roscommon's Athlone Municipal District heard that a request had been received by the council from four residents in the locality to take their private road in charge.

Susan Loughnane, Senior Engineer, told the meeting that the road in question was located on the northern side of the L2018 (Curraghboy Road), approximately 480 metres west of the junction with the N61. The road in question is a cul-de-sac, some 146 metres in length and 3 metres in width.

"The road is bounded to the east by an agricultural field with stone wall boundary, and the four residences are accessed from the western side of the road," said the council engineer.

"No access to the road is required for the public in general, unless visiting the four residences. It is therefore considered that the road is not of general public utility.

"It is noted that existing funding for road maintenance is not considered sufficient to maintain the public roads in the Athlone municipal district, and that the taking in charge of any additional roads would further compound this issue."

The meeting learned that all four residents had signed the request for the road to be taken in charge, but that the landowner of the road was not included in the application.

Susan Loughnane said that, given the road was in private ownership, and not in the ownership of the residents, there were concerns regarding the existence of a public right of way.

"It is recommended that the road in question is not taken in charge," Ms Loughnane concluded.

Cllr Tony Ward said some of the residents in the area had been living there for 45 to 50 years, and he was disappointed with the answer from the council as the residents had approached him on the issue some years ago.

"I intend to put a motion before the council in relation to this," said the Independent councillor. "It’s a short section of road, and with the way it is kept by the householders there, and the bushes being cut, the least we can do is keep the road maintained for them."

Cllr Laurence Fallon said it was a road he knew well and it was disappointing not to see it being taken in charge.

"I would suggest that the householders liaise with the owner of the road," said the Independent councillor. "This should be taken in charge. The people are there, as Cllr Ward said, for over forty years."

Fianna Fail's Cllr John Keogh said he, too, was disappointed with the response.

"I will accept the ownership is in the name of another party. The reality is there is no adjoining lands in the ownership of that party, and I know there is a right of way created over that section of road," said Cllr Keogh.

"I would request that we would re-examine the application. We should be accommodating people in whatever way we can.

"The road is not in a bad condition, and some residents would be happy with tar and chip on it. I'd be proposing we re-examine it, and I'm sure Cllr Ward will second that."

Cllr Ward did second Cllr Keogh's proposal that the council re-examine the residents' request for the road to be taken in charge.