Councillors Say HGV Damaging Roads In Arklow

Arklow councillors have criticised the destruction of local roads by heavy goods vehicles serving local quarries

Arklow councillors have criticised the destruction of local roads by heavy goods vehicles serving local quarries, calling for operators to pay for repairs and the expeditious delivery of a long-mooted port road on the south side of town.

With the completion of Arklow’s wastewater treatment plant on the horizon and a raft of expansive housing developments already in the works, the intertwined issues of deteriorating roadways and the constant flow of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) through the town has come under the spotlight recently.

Having been inundated with calls from concerned residents highlighting the hazardous conditions created by the transportation of raw materials, elected Arklow councillors vented their frustration at the resulting costly repair works came at the November Municipal District meeting.

Councillor Peir Leonard tabled a motion calling for a detailed costing of repairs, and funding from Wicklow County Council (WCC) and the relevant Government departments to deliver the port road “as a matter of urgency”.“I think that the time has come to get the ball rolling on whatever feasibility study we need to take to get the port road in, report on what damage has been done,” Cllr Leonard said.

“There is so much development going on in the town, and our staff here seem the ones picking up the pieces, having to put extra resources into things that they shouldn’t have to be, and it’s taking resources away from other projects.

“I don’t think there is a road in the town that isn’t damaged, and I’ve lost count of the amount of times we’ve had to fix Bridge Street and down around the harbour.

Echoing Cllr Leonard’s sentiments, councillor Pat Fitzgerald added: “Something needs to happen to fix the roads because there is going to be a serious accident someday with all the holes around the place.”