Road safety measures sought near Newmarket schools

AT the January meeting of Shannon Municipal District, Newmarket based Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat McMahon sought speed signs to be put in place near local primary schools, citing an “increase in student levels and a steady rise in traffic”.

He said that the primary school in the village is next to the old Ennis-Limerick road, which is still very heavily used. He also pointed out that there are soccer pitches next to the school which are regularly used by children during school hours, increasing the necessity for the signage.

A reply to his motion stated that a driver feedback sign has been ordered and will be in place before the end of April.

Councillor Donna McGettigan said that it is only common sense to have such signs near any school.

Councillor McMahon also asked that the Council, in cooperation with the Gardai, reduce the speed limit to 50km in the vicinity of the Well’s School, and that a zebra crossing be installed. He also sought more signage indicating that the school is there, and that the road be gritted during frosty weather.

The reply he received at the meeting said, “Under the Active Travel Allocations received for Regional and Local Roads 2020 it is proposed to provide a controlled pedestrian crossing adjacent to the M18 underpass near the Dairygold Co-Op Superstore at Hurlers Cross, Shannon.

“The Road Design Office will, in conjunction Shannon MD, progress design solutions in the vicinity of Well’s School as soon as practicably possible in the appropriate early part of this year.”

Councillor PJ Ryan said that there is an issue at the school with speeding, because of the straight road outside it. He also said that there is a need for some parking facility there.

Fine Gael’s John Crowe agreed that the road needs to be gritted in frosty weather, saying he had skidded there himself and that conditions can be very dangerous in the area.