Recently I brought the appalling state of the footpath on the Forest Road to the attention of the North County Leader. The narrowness and poor surface of the footpath on the Forest Road, from the traffic lights at the entrance to River Valley up as far as Boroimhe, is appalling and poses a great safety hazard to women and children in prams in particular. This is a very busy road and is used by vans, trucks, as well as cars accessing the nearby shopping centre. The footpath on the western side of the road is nice and wide, but it disappears as you head down the road. You have no option, but to cross to the narrow path, without a pedestrian crossing. You certainly need your wits about you.
The County Leader spoke to a path user, who had no doubt about the hazardous condition of the footpath. River Valley resident, Naoimh Booth Kirwan, said, ”I regularly use this path and at times it’s quite overgrown and I have to walk on the road where the path is very narrow. I’d never walk here at night – it’s far too dangerous. It is impossible for people with buggies and if two come together, then one has to step on to the busy road. It’s impossible. I always cross over to the wider section, when I’m coming up the road and am conscious of the dangers this brings,” she said.