Castlebar councillors have welcomed the pedestrianisation of a local street for outdoor dining but are concerned by the traffic headache it is causing, writes Keith Bourke.

Tucker Street. Picture: Google Maps

The closure of Tucker Street to traffic on weekend evenings has been a big hit with residents and visitors. However, a lack of traffic measures to combat the closure is leading to heavy backlogs along New Line, Chapel Street, and the lower Westport Road.

Councillors have called for a filter lane to be put in place outside Johnny McHale’s pub.

“It’s a simple solution,” said Fianna Fáil’s Blackie Gavin.

“Our town cannot come to a standstill,” he added.

Cllr Ger Deere, who previously raised the issue, said there is plenty of scope to carry out the work at this location.

“It won’t cost an arm and a leg, let’s just do it,” he said.

Independent Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said on occasions the traffic has been backed up past McDonald’s Drive-Thru on the Westport Road. He said on one evening an ambulance was unable to pass.