Unnecessary road closure led to four temporary layoffs angers davitt

Cllr Aidan Davitt launched a scathing attack on the National Roads Authority (NRA) this week saying Westmeath County Council “were sold a pup” when the NRA erected signs for diversions along the N52 Delvin Road between Cloughan and Delvin for two weeks, even though no road works took place.

As a result, said the councillor, a local business had to let four staff go temporarily, and while the works began in earnest on Monday of this week, it means the road will be closed for a further two weeks, meaning a total road closure of four weeks.

“I’m absolutely enraged at the arrogance the NRA displayed in relation to the closing of the Delvin Road. They notified us that diversions would be in place and we agreed with that for common sense,” explained Cllr Davitt at Monday's meeting of Westmeath County Council.

“But for the last two weeks the road has been closed and not a shovel has been lifted. It’s a total disgrace,” he fumed.

“Justin Egan runs a petrol station out there, a family run business, and he has four other staff employed there and he let all four staff go on a temporary basis because he knew he’d have no passing traffic. So there’s four people without a job for two weeks, these people have families, and haven’t a wage coming in.

“The total arrogance of them. These people must be from another planet, it’s easy knowing that they don’t have to go out and earn their own living every week because if they did they wouldn’t be carrying on the way they are,” continued Davitt.

Council official Barry Kehoe agreed that there should be no diversions in place unless work was taking place.