Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Back of Errigal Road and Rann na Feirste main road to be included in future Gritting Policy

Published: 8 February, 2010

Back of Errigal Road and Rann na Feirste main road to be included in future Gritting Policy

Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher has today welcomed the unanimous decision by Donegal County Council to agree that the back of Errigal Raod and the Rann na Feirste main road to be included in all future gritting programmes and be a priority on our Winter maintenance programme.

Chairperson of the Glenties electoral area Marie Therese Gallagher outlined to the Council the importance of keeping these roads passable for the people of West-Donegal.

"Both these roads have huge importance to the people of West-Donegal, people were unable to go to work, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding these roads as there were rumours that roads were passable when infact they were in a very dangerous condition. We have to ensure that this situation does not arise again, we know that it is not possible to grit all roads, but in this circumstance these roads need to be a priority."

"Over 1600 people drive on the back of Errigal road on a daily basis, during the cold spell at Christmas we could not keep this road passable, I am not here to suggest that the Council ask people to travel on roads that are not save, but I am saying that as 29 members of the Council we need to ensure that come next year we have sufficient salt to ensure that all major arteries are kept open."

"Also in this motion I ask that the main road to Rann na Feirste be included in the gritting policy, Rann na Feirste is a high populated area, which access to the area being poor all year around with both the main road and the whitecross road needing upgrading. The transporters for the Renal dialysis service is based in Rann na Feirste, renal dialysis is accepted as life and death situation, and over the cold spell he was unable to carry out his transportation duties from Rann na Feirste. We here today have to ensure that Rann na Feirste is not an add-on to the gritting policy, but infact included as policy. These decision are taken here in this room, and although the worst of the weather is over, I believe now is the time when its fresh in all of our minds to learn from our mistakes, we have ten months ahead of us now to ensure that a working plan is in place for the winter ahead, and that our policy going forward will ensure that the back of Errigal road and the main Rann na Feirste are included."

CRIOCH