Landowner ‘is getting tired’ of high accident rate on dangerous Tipperary road

A landowner has called for barriers and signs to be placed on a dangerous stretch of road near Clonmel to provide better protection and prevent another death from occurring.
The wrong bend between Rathronan Cross and the Halfway House bar on the Clonmel-Fethard road has been the scene of three crashes in the past 12 months involving the emergency services, says Paul Flaherty, whose land adjoins the road, and who says he’s “getting tired” of out-of-control cars damaging the ditch.
“Someone was killed in an accident at this bend eight years ago and it is only a matter of time before there is another death,” he says.
“The ditch has been beaten several times. It takes 25 to 30 years to grow an eight-foot-high ditch to make it stock-proof to keep animals out of the land and onto the road,” says dairy farmer Paul.
“Many cars either crossed the ditch and ended up in the field or skidded and flattened the ditch.
“Most accidents happen at night. The drivers disappear and no one comes back and asks if you want help fixing the ditch.
“I’m starting to get fed up at this point.” He says a farm road runs along the ditch “and that’s where we do our work, up and down.” “It’s not the safest environment to work in.
“There is an element of safety for my family, myself and my stock.”
Paul met locally with local councilor Siobhán Ambrose and district engineer Eoin Powell to review the road, while the issue was raised by Cllr Pat English at the recent Clonmel Borough district meeting.
Cllr Ambrose said: ‘Following our meeting it was agreed that on an interim basis the council would insert warning road markings on this section of the road, in addition to similar signage on the poles along this section of the road.
“The council will also ask the Department for Transport as part of its low-cost security program to erect barriers.
“This section of road has a history of accidents including one fatality and it is my hope that with these proposed safety initiatives future accidents in this location will be prevented,” said Cllr Ambrose.