Residents of West Street in Tallow are calling for urgent action to address what they describe as a long-standing and dangerous speeding problem in the area.

Resident Helen Conway says people living on the narrow residential street have been campaigning for the past 18 months for measures to improve safety, including a reduction in the speed limit and the installation of traffic-calming measures.

Speaking on WLR, Conway said vehicles regularly travel well above the current 50km/h speed limit, with some motorists allegedly reaching speeds of 70 to 80km/h on a road lined with homes and local amenities.

Residents are now organising a day of action aimed at highlighting the issue and encouraging greater engagement with Waterford City and County Council.

Conway said a reduction in the speed limit to 30km/h has already been approved by the local authority, but has yet to be implemented.

She is also calling for temporary rubber speed bumps to be installed as an interim measure, arguing that they could be used to assess the effectiveness of traffic calming before any permanent infrastructure is put in place.

According to residents, concerns have been raised about proposals for a pedestrian crossing and raised table scheme, with some fearing it could create congestion, reduce parking availability, and fail to address the root cause of speeding in the area.

Conway outlined several incidents that residents say demonstrate the dangers of excessive speed, including damage to parked vehicles and near misses involving pedestrians.

She also highlighted safety concerns near a childcare facility on West Street, where children, parents, and motorists regularly interact in a busy traffic environment.

Residents have established a process for gathering local accounts and experiences. At the same time, Gardaí in Dungarvan have increased speed checks in the area and are encouraging members of the public to come forward with information about road safety concerns.

A petition is being circulated among residents ahead of the planned day of action, with campaigners hoping it will demonstrate strong community support for additional traffic-calming measures.

Conway says local people are seeking a constructive dialogue with the council and believe temporary speed bumps would provide a practical and cost-effective way of testing solutions before longer-term decisions are made.

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