Children urged to walk and cycle to school

Children should walk or cycle to school when possible, said Leitrim County Council District Engineer, Darragh O'Boyle at a recent meeting. 
"That's the main issue," said Mr O'Boyle in response to a motion from Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire which highlighted illegal parking in Carrick town with the Fine Gael woman saying the avenue at Marymount towards the Dublin Road is being blocked at school drop-off and pick-up times and cars are obstructing residents from leaving their homes for up to twenty minutes. 
"There are cars being left up on footpaths with engines running so there is general mayhem for maybe twenty minutes," she stated. 

Mr O'Boyle said the solution was to encourage parents and children "to get on their feet and get cycling". 

Cllr Armstrong-McGuire also stated that buses are not aware of the set-down area at the Medical Centre or at the Bush Hotel and said that bus drop-offs are happening on double yellow lines. 
"There are often buses parking there, leaving their engines running; staying for up to 30 minutes," she said, adding it was "unfair and inappropriate."

She asked if legitimate parking areas and the provision of free-of-charge spaces in the town can be highlighted.

She was advised that the traffic warden will monitor this area once the school has reopened with the response continuing that it is "illegal to park on any public footpath and tickets can be issued accordingly."
"It is illegal for buses or any other vehicle to stop on double yellow lines. We have a number of dedicated drop-off areas for buses in the new town car park and along the N4. We are continuing with free parking at the quay areas in the town," the response concluded.

Mr O'Boyle continued that there are double yellow lines at the bottom of St Mary's Close to allow residents and church-goers to turn left or right safely. "It's down to enforcement," he said, adding that there is just one traffic warden operating in the town currently instead of the usual three. 

Cllr Paddy Farrell supported the motion as did Cllr Sean McGowan saying it was a "serious problem".

Mr O'Boyle added that yellow lines could be placed from the Marist Convent down to the Dublin Road to dissuade motorists from illegally parking there. 
 
Low cost safety scheme for road at Drumgorman Lough 

Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire asked that a safety assessment be carried out on a section of the R280, saying much of the area is without any safety barrier. She continued that the area is "quite open" and asked if any improvements could be carried out. 

The report by Director of Services for Economic Development, Planning, Environment and Transportation said the fishing area Cllr Armstrong-McGuire was referring to is located on the R207 at Drumgorman Lough and containment systems were looked at before at this location, however, the verge and land adjoining did not have sufficient height/mass for a safety barrier. 

The response continued that Leitrim County Council installed a number of delineators and signage at this location as part of a low cost safety scheme a number of years ago. 

She was advised that If the land owner wishes to transfer some of the land, the Council can reconsider mounding the area in question and can then apply for funding under the low cost safety scheme.

Mr O'Boyle, District Engineer, noted there haven't been "any incidents" at this section of the road.