Call for M7 speed fine cash to be used to upgrade back roads used as 'rat-runs'

Councillors Suzanne Doyle and Daragh Fitzpatrick have called on Kildare Co Council to use money generated from fines along the M7 road works to be used to upgrade roads being used as 'rat-runs' by motorists.

The issue will be raised at the next monthly meeting on February 25.

Many motorists use villages such as Johnstown, Kill, Athgarvan and surrounding back roads to avoid traffic congestion on the M7.

GoSafe speed vans began appearing regularly along the road works zone in November in order to help enforce the special speed limit of 60km per hour.

The motion before the Council meeting states: "That the Council seeks allocation of all revenue generated through speed enforcement fines imposed on the M7 for the duration of the upgrade, to be ring fenced for road improvement works on routes that are experiencing increased levels of traffic as a result of traffic diverting to avoid M7."