New motorway cuts off access to businesses in Drum and Ballydangan

The Athlone to Ballinasloe section of the new M6 is open less than two weeks, however local businesses around Drum, Creagh and Ballydangan are already reporting a drastic reduction in passing business. "There's already been a serious drop in business at the restaurant and the petrol stations and it's primarily as a result of a lack of signage," said Moore-based councillor Jimmy Kenny. "I'm very concerned about people who are employed locally." He said that traffic coming from Galway does not know where to turn off at the new roundabout leading to Ballydangan and basic services, and that for now a temporary sign has been erected there. "It's an urgent situation and I've been talking to Roscommon County Council about it and they will give it their urgent attention," he added. This August Bank Holiday weekend was the worst one ever experienced for Glendeer Pet Farm in Drum according to proprietor Phil O'Connell. "It's usually our busiest weekend of the year and it was very, very quiet. This is our peak time for tourism but it's been a nightmare. The old road is like a ghost road, it's like switching out a light really," she said yesterday (Tuesday). "In 19 years we've never saw a bank holiday like it. We're devastated, it's a nightmare." She said that most of the customers due to visit at the weekend ended up in Ballinasloe, and some even ended up in the Galway town three times. She said she has contacted Roscommon County Council and the National Roads Association asking that proper signage is erected off all the junctions on the new stretch of motorway. "There's a whole lot of things in Drum, there's the church, the graveyard, the heritage centre, the dolmans, Sean Naughten's birthplace and also Summerhill secondary school and national school. It's not just visitors to the area, a lot of local people are getting it wrong as well," Phil added. Millar's Restaurant and Bar saw business drop by 3/4 during the first week of the new road opening. "With the Galway races, it's usually our busiest week of the year but it was our quietest," said owner Gerry Kelly. "It took a fair dip, but business seems to be coming back slightly now. It's because of the lack of signage now, we're on the road to nowhere now." Mr Kelly decided to erect his own sign on the road at the weekend, directing people to the restaurant which he said helped to improve business again over the bank holiday. "It's bad when you've to put up your own sign, especially when you're paying rates," he added. He's appealing to locals to remember to use the restaurant and that the old Athlone to Ballinasloe road is actually the faster route. He also wants the council to provide adequate signage, which should help all local businesses. However, he fears for the future of some of the 23 full and part time jobs if business doesn't pick up. "There is a problem with signage. People don't know where to turn off the M6 to access Drum or Moore, all those areas. What was previously the N6 is now listed as the R446 so there is a lot of confusion out there and it's certainly not helping local businesses, especially in these times," said local Fine Gael councillor John Naughten. "There should have been a consultation process between the department, the NRA, local business-owners and local councillors to see what signs were needed."