Stray deer causing havoc for motorists on stretch of road in Kilkenny
Ongoing problem highlighted on the R693 Freshford to Johnstown Road in County Kilkenny
Stray deer are regularly putting the lives of motorists at risk on a stretch of road in rural County Kilkenny.
That’s according to the Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Michael McCarthy, who intends to convene a meeting with Castlecomer Municipal Engineer Paraic Butler and the County Senior Engineer Seamus Kavanagh to address the ongoing problem on the R693 Freshford to Johnstown Road.
“In my opinion there is every likelihood that somebody will be seriously injured or worse, following reports of a number of accidents and near misses along the road,” he said.
“We now as a local authority need to immediately conduct an urgent safety review into the danger posed to motorists by the increased numbers of deer.”
Figures released to Cllr McCarthy indicate that a total of 713 deer have been culled in Kilkenny in 2023.
“I now intend to find out the exact locations behind that data, as I believe if anything the deer population appears to have increased in our area,” he continued.
“There remains grave concern locally especially along a certain stretch of the R693.”
Cllr McCarthy further emphasised that the problem ‘needs sorting as soon as possible’.