'High speed' road at Laois primary school to get speed radar signs
The speed of lorries going past a Laois roadside primary school is "shocking" with fresh measures now to be implemented to slow down traffic.
The Rock National School with about 200 pupils is on the regional Mountmellick to Emo road leading to the M7 motorway.
The schoolchildren in the past held a successful campaign to get a footpath link to Mountmellick so they can walk and cycle. However speeding traffic going by the school at busy drop off and collection times is still a safety concern.
Laois County Council has announced its intention to replace speed radar signage which is in place either side of the school, and to repaint the road, with a call for ramps to be added too.
Cllr Willie Aird tabled a motion to ask for repainted line markings and to make sure that the speed limit signs are visible "in the interest of the safety of children and parents".
"I couldn't believe how the paint has gone off the roads and the ditch has overgrown. This is one of the many areas crying out for work. People just continue to speed. For some unknown reason it's a high speed area, despite there being a school there.
"The speed radars are highly effective. All these schools have doubled, quadrupled in numbers," he said.
Cllr Barry Walsh said he would love to see ramps there as well.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald is Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District.
"Lorries come over that hill and you would be shaking, they'd nearly knock you off the side with the speed they are going. I hope you are able to do more now, it's very dangerous. Local people are using the school and these big lorries terrify you if you are standing outside the Rock school," she said.