AN area on the outskirts of Letterkenny has been described as a 'death trap' because of a dangerous bend and speeding traffic.

Councillor Victor Fisher has called on the Town Council to address the traffic dangers on the town side of the new sports complex at Sallaghagrane.

Speaking at Monday night's Town Council meeting Cllr Fisher said local residents incur daily problems when trying to access the road because of the dangerous bend and speeding traffic on the road beside the St. Vincent de Paul Hostel and the Collins' family home.

"This family have had a couple of very narrow escapes in recent times," he said.

"I would ask that our engineer go out and talk to the family and listen to their concerns. They just can't get out onto the road in the morning because the road is so busy and the traffic is going so fast," he said.

Cllr Fisher called on the council to put in speed ramps on this section of road.

However, while councillors agreed that the road was particularly dangerous, some members questioned if speed ramps would be a good solution.

Cllr Gerry McMonagle said the priority of the council should be to realign the road, install footpaths and a pedestrian crossing close to the new Leisure Centre.

"A ramp on the road would be an even bigger road hazard to what's there at the moment - and that's nothing," he said.

Cllr Dessie Larkin said the new road on the Conwal side of O'Donnell Park was a fantastic job and he suggested that the sweeping corner at the St. Vincent de Paul hostel could also be realigned.

Cllr Jim Lynch agreed and said the council needed to design 'an acceptable solution' to this junction. He insisted however, that the changes could be incorporated into the plans for the new road behind Dunnes out to Ballymacool.

Cllr Damien Blake said when roads are made safer in Letterkenny, the rate of accidents tended to go up because the quality of driving is so bad.