Top officials of Sligo County Council have warned that any moves by councillors to take over certain private roads in rural areas would create a dangerous precedent.
They also say it would have serious consequences for the council’s finances.
The issue of taking over private roads in rural areas arose at a meeting of councillors from the Ballymote/Tubbercurry/West Sligo municipal district.
It followed a proposal from Fianna Fail Councillor Jerry Lundy concerning a certain road that has been improved under a Local Improvement Scheme.
He pointed out that the road, in the townlands of Creehussaun and Banada, in the parish of Tourlestrane, was unique in that it was a link between two public roads.
He said it was used by the gardai, the milkman and an oil tanker.
Under the LIS scheme it had been improved to a very high standard, there were no pot holes in it and it wouldn’t cost the council any money.
He said it served not only a few houses but a whole parish, a whole community.
Cllr Lundy added that the council takes over roads in estates in towns, and he wondered why it could not take a rural roads in charge.
Both the council CEO Ciaran Hayes and Director of Services Tom Kilfeather said the motions would create a dangerous precedent
Mr Kilfeather said if it was passed, everyone on an LIS road would be entitled to come in and ask that it be taken over by the council.
But Cllr Lundy said he would be the last person to ask that LIS roads be taken over.
And Independent Councillor Michael Clarke said that in the case of a strategic road, special criteria should be formulated to cover them.
He thought that in the whole county, there would not be four or five of these roads.
Councillors eventually agreed to refer Cllr Lundy’s motion to a special policy committee of the council for further discussion.
