Motorists on busy Laois primary school road 'unaware' of unmarked crossing

A courtesy pedestrian crossing at a Laois school is not seen by drivers, according to a local councillor who is a teacher there.

Laois County Council is being asked to upgrade the crossing outside Scoil Bhride national school on Harpurs Lane in Portlaoise.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan teaches at the school. 

He says the principal and parents want the changes made.

"There is a manned pedestrian crossing at one end of the road, with a lollipop lady. At the other end there is a courtesy crossing. The principal and parents want this upgraded to have lights and signage. Motorists are not aware of it.

"The barriers and tactile paving are all done. On behalf of the school I thank the council for all the work done so far. It has greatly improved the parking situation," Cllr Mulligan said.

He was tabling a motion to the March meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.

Laois County Council answered to state that Harpurs Lane is getting a full Active Travel refurbishment, to make it safer to use for pedestrians and cyclists.

"The Active Travel engineer is preparing a preliminary design. A needs assessment will be carried out to determine appropriate pedestrian crossing location(s) and this will be included in the design as required," the roads designers said.

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Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley seconded the motion.

"The council did a road safety audit on Harpurs Lane to address parking. We flagged the unmarked crossing, I am happy the engineers are looking at it. The traffic audit found something like 70,000 vehicles, that's nearly a new road going into the town. People are getting caught crossing to the shop. I paid for a speed ramp," she said.