Sir, – I have just returned from a week trying to wander in the west of Ireland. The impression I have brought home is that Mayo has been tarmacked over and what’s not yet slathered in the black stuff is “private land” and inaccessible.
Using a Tailte Éireann Discovery map, I attempted to walk roads to nowhere – yellow and grey roads that end in a field on a headland. Some ended in unwelcoming gates, others were impassable with brambles and nettles.
When I asked locals who was responsible for keeping these lovely ancient green boreens open, I was firmly told, “that would be private land” – in other words: “keep off.”
Your vehicular roads, even those waymarked as “loops”, are unusable on foot, due to reckless driving speeds.
My coastal trees and shrubs were damaged by Storm Éowyn. What should I do?
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I would suggest taking a leaf out of the English book and save taxpayers’ money, lay off the tarmac and let a few potholes develop – they are a sure-fire way to make drivers slow down. It will save pedestrians’ lives and maybe a few more will get out of their cars, stay fitter and save on medical bills too. – Yours, etc,
SUSANNAH CLEMENCE,
Somerset,
England.
