Safety works needed near Laois school
'This road is lethal, particularly when there is ice,' Councillor warns
A councillor said action is needed after a number of accidents near a school in Laois.
Speaking at the January meeting of Borris-in-Ossory Mountemllick Municipal District, Fine Gael Cllr Conor Bergin called for safety measures near Killadooley National School.
He tabled a motion asking: ‘’That Laois County Council address the road safety issues on the L-1517 road at Ballymeelish between Green Roads, Ballybrophy and Killadooley National School.’’
Cllr Bergin explained that it was a “really busy” road.
“There is a huge volume of traffic going up there every day. There has been a number of crashes, collisions on that bad bend there,” he said.
He said there are bad bends and he suggested signage and markings to get people to slow down.
Cllr Bergin said while it is great that the school is doing well the extra traffic is causing problems for parents.
“They shouldn’t have to be at risk dropping their kids off at school,” he remarked.
“This road is lethal, particularly when there is ice,” he said.
He believed it should be included in the winter gritting programme.
In response to the motion, Senior Executive Engineer, Edmund Kenny said: “A meeting will be arranged with the elected member at this location to establish the issues of concern and identify remedial works.”
Fine Gael Cllr John King said he passed by the road most days. He said there was a “serious flow” of traffic and he believed something should be done to encourage people to slow down.
Independent Cllr James Kelly said he regularly uses the stretch of road.
“There are very bad dangerous bends there,” he said.
He said the issues needed to be addressed but he admitted he wasn’t sure how.