Parents’ behaviour during drop off and pick up times is part of the problem at school car parks, according to a senior engineer at Laois County Council.
Senior Executive Engineer for the Mountmellick/Borris-in-Ossory municipal district, Mr Paul McLoughlin, was responding to a notice of motion raised by cllrs Seamus McDonald and Paddy Bracken, when he said that the problem with car parking at schools is sometimes down to ‘parent behaviour’.
Both cllrs tabled notices of motion at the meeting requesting safety measures at a play school in Clonaslee.
Speed ramps, flashing lights and pedestrian crossings
They requested speed ramps, flashing lights, clamping, a pedestrian crossing and road markings at the playschool and site of the former boys’ school in Clonaslee.
In a written statement, the Laois County Council Road Design Section said that it will inspect the site and make road safety recommendations if required but that any works would be subject to funding.
Senior area engineer Mr Paul Mcloughlin said he will try to put some safety measures in place.
“I have been at the location, it is a playschool now with 63 children and it is great to see it. Interim measures can be put in place if we need to wait for funding for road markings and signs.
“The problem with this and many schools is the behaviour of parents making it difficult. There is ample parking and they are lucky to have so much parking but it is parents behaviour at drop off and pick up times too,” he said.
Cllr McDonald said the car park is currently dangerous.
“Safety measures are needed, we need to take action immediately to make the area safe. It is dangerous, the main problem is traffic speeding and collection and drop off times.” he said.
Paddy Bracken added that short term measures would be appreciated in the area which is a ‘huge concern’. He said that visibility is an issue at the car park too.
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