Why this obsession with wider footpaths?

CAN anyone please tell me why there is a sudden fascination with widening footpaths all over the country? And despite objections from businesses and residents – no matter where the work is taking place – the authorities are intent on pursuing whatever agenda they have in their heads.

We all talk about progress, but sometimes I wonder whose progress we are talking about. Some years ago, I remember the local authority going to great pains to put up a permanent barrier at the junction of Burrin Street and the Kilkenny Road.

In fairness it was a good job; people had to get into their correct lane and the work done avoided creating chaos at an already busy junction. Last week, I noticed this has now been removed.

In addition, work continues on creating new footpaths leading to the university. I know this is a busy spot, but all the indications to date lead me to believe that instead of creating a footpath and cycle lane, the authorities are making it almost impossible for trucks and buses to negotiate what was once a fairly wide road.

You might think I am being a bit of a moaner about this, but take a look at the job the authorities have done from the Burrin Street junction down to the roundabout at Kennedy Avenue?

Can anyone seriously believe such a wide footpath and cycle lane parallel to each other is really needed? I know we are trying to get young people to take their heads out of screens, get out and grab some fresh air and maybe even get some exercise into the bargain, but can you see any justification for widening these paths to such an extent that it becomes dangerous for buses and trucks, not to mention motorists, to use them?

I know cycling enthusiasts will tell you that creating a safe space for them to navigate roads is very important – and I agree – but let’s use a bit of commonsense when we go about doing that. Ask any driver of a bus or HGV and they will tell you all this new craze is doing is creating even more traffic hazards to what they encounter on a daily basis.

For that matter, ask anyone who regularly uses either footpaths or roads in the general area of the Kilkenny Road and most will agree the existing infrastructure is more than sufficient, so why try to fix something that isn’t broken?

Bagenalstown is currently undergoing something similar at present. Again, the footpaths are more than adequate to cater for people, but over the past few months the entire town has been torn apart – and for what? – to create boulevards and flower beds where they are not needed.

I asked a local businessman what he thought of the project last week and he told me he did not know of one businessperson or shopper in the town who agreed with what was going on.

“We have written to the council, met with officials, had meetings about it, but no-one listens to us. Bagenalstown is a lovely town, but we do not need all this. The only outcome is reduced on-street parking, which will infuriate customers and have an effect on business,” he said.

And can you blame him? Ask anyone in business and they will tell you it is a constant struggle to make everything balance at the end of the week or month.

Costs continue to go north, but yet they have to endure all sorts of inconveniences, and when they question the reasons why, they are told ‘progress’.

It is not just Carlow or Bagenalstown who are experiencing this crazy programme of so-called progress. I had to smile when I heard Conor Faughnan, the well-known consultant in transport and communications, speak about experiencing the same problems where he lives – and he, too, could not understand what is going on.

Once upon a time, I remember the late Fine Gael TD John Brown getting into a wheelchair and trying to make his way around Carlow to highlight what was right and what was wrong with the existing footpaths.

He told me that while to the able-bodied person the existing infrastructure may have appeared to be okay, it was a whole different matter if you were confined to a wheelchair.

Ask wheelchair users today if a lot has changed and they will tell you, no matter what town you are in, there is a lot more that could be done to repair existing paths and create new ones with fewer obstacles.

Here’s an idea: how about fixing what is already there instead of creating new ones? Then again, that would take a bit of commonsense and, as we see time and time again, that is in short supply in this country.