Laois County Councillors have called for urgent traffic calming measures to be installed at Castletown National School.
Cllr James Kelly raised the motion at the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District meeting this week, saying these measures were “a matter of urgency.”
Mr Paul McLoughlin, Senior Engineer at the Road Design Office said:
“The Road Design Section, in conjuction with the Municipal Distric Office, will review the current provision and assess what additional measures are required at this location.”
“Safety in our schools is very important, and it is a priority,” Cllr Kelly said.
“There is an awful lot of traffic and congestion at the school… and the speed that vehicles are coming down that road towards the school is shocking.”
There was support for the motion from Cllrs Ollie Clooney and Conor Bergin, with the pair reiterating the urgency of the matter.
Cllr Kelly also tabled a motion asking Laois County Council to urgently replace the pedestrian bridge over the River Gully in Camross village.
Mr Edmond Kenny, District Engineer confirmed fabrication work was scheduled to commence in November on the bridge and it is expected that work will be complete before the end of the year.
Cllr Kelly welcomed the response, saying the bridge is a major area of concern for residents in the area.
“It is a beautiful, rustic, wooden pedestrian bridge over the River Gully, which is essential as the narrow road bridge into the village is not safe for pedestrians.
“It services the adjacent Ard Erin View housing estate, the local National School, creche, community field and hall, church, Sean Bergins public house, poets cottage, as well as the hub and the gym, and is is frequently used by walkers exploring the Sliabh Bloom mountains.
“Unfortunately, the fact is that it is a wooden bridge, and over time the pillars on either side of the walkway have become loose making the bridge a health and safety issue.”
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