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Calls made for road safety audits at schools

This article is from page 14 of the 2009-11-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG

COUNCILLORS are calling for a full road safety audit to be carried out at each primary and post-prima- ry school in the Ennis area.

At yesterday’s meeting of council- lors in the Ennis East electoral area, Councillor Johnny Flynn initially called on the council to carry out a road safety audit of all schools in En- nis East.

Cllr Flynn told the meeting that an audit was necessary as there had been a “significant” number of traffic accidents at schools in Ennis.

In response, Senior Executive En- gineer, Eamon O’Dea said that the council did not have the resources to carry out the audit.

Mr O’Dea added that there had been significant investment in road signage and road markings.

He stated, “The council would be obliged to look at this proposal on a countywide basis and it would not be possible to have it carried out within our resources. There has been con- siderable investment by the council into road signage and road markings

in the vicinity of schools and the em- ployment of school wardens at many of the national schools.”

He added, “The council is willing to discuss any issues that may exist on an individual basis with the relevant

school authorities and this is usually carried out in the pre-planning phase when schools are seeking permission for improvement works.”

Cllr Flynn said he was disappoint- ed with the council’s response. “I’m

disappointed that we are not looking at this a bit more. I think we could take Ennis East as a trial area. The number of accidents and incidents outside schools is significant.”

Cllr Flynn added, “There is a sig- nificant need for this. Ennis East would become a pilot area.”

ClUlr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said he would support the motion if it was amended to include all schools in the Ennis area and not just those in En- nis East.

Clir Flynn agreed to amend his mo- tion to include all schools in Ennis.

Cllr Flynn had initially proposed that Clare County Council carry out a road safety audit at each primary and post-primary school in the Ennis East in terms of adequacy of vehicu- lar set down/collection, facilities for cyclists/pedestrians (including cross- ings), school warden needs/requests, public lighting, speed limits, effec- tiveness of signage, school bus facili- ties, etc, and make recommendations for planned phased improvements if required.

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