It was a miracle that somebody wasn’t killed on Portumna’s Main Street recently when a motorist ploughed into the beacon on a town-centre pedestrian crossing.

That’s what local Councillor Ivan Canning (FF) told a meeting of Loughrea Municipal District on Monday as he reiterated calls for the installation of a traffic-light controlled pedestrian crossing on the town’s main thoroughfare.

“It was the luck of God that someone wasn’t killed there a week ago when a motorist mowed the pole out of it – they actually broke it,” said Cllr Canning.

“The car was there for a couple of hours after because it was so bad, it couldn’t be moved.”

He said he had raised the issue at a previous meeting, alerting the Council that the belisha (flashing) beacon crossing was not working to slow down traffic.

“We got a report that it would cost €55,000 to change it – that wouldn’t be much if somebody was killed there last week.

“If that wasn’t a sign that we have to do it, I don’t know what will be,” said the Fianna Fáil councillor.

The speed at which motorists were driving through Portumna was a serious concern, continued Cllr Canning, who believed only a red light would be enough to slow them down.

Executive Engineer Gerard Haugh said there was nothing to say that accident would not have happened if it had been a different type of crossing.

Cllr Canning said he did not accept this.

“I’ll continue to raise this. I accept your hands might be tied,” he said to the engineer.

“I have a business on Main Street in Portumna and I see what is happening. I guarantee you it would be [avoided with traffic lights].

“I hope I’m not in here some day raising an issue that’s a lot worse than this,” said Cllr Canning.

Cllr Jimmy McClearn (FG) lamented the dangerous manner in which many motorists were driving, attributing many accidents that happen to speed as he called for an improvement in driver behaviour.

“Maybe it’s beyond the bounds of councillors or Galway County Council to deal with it – there is a serious issue with drivers speeding,” said the Portumna-based councillor.

Meanwhile, Cllr McClearn said Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) had been invited to attend their September meeting to answer questions on the ongoing stop-go system on the N65 at Heathlawn which has been frustrating motorists for over a year following damage caused by a road traffic incident.

Cllr McClearn said State bodies such as TII had a responsibility to answer to elected representatives.

“I think it’s appalling that it’s left in the state its in and we’re not going in a good direction when the people’s representatives are being ignored.

“This is going on 14 months and the TII are not the ones being inconvenienced by it,” he said.

Mr Haugh apologised as he said a follow-up invite had not been sent to TII after their no-show in September.

However, he said it was his understanding that the TII had committed to appoint consultants this year with a view to starting works on the road in 2026.

Pictured: Cllr Ivan Canning…warning