“There are too many children using this route on their way to school for there not to be a crossing of some sort” says one mother
Whether you’re a pedestrian, cyclist or motorist attempting to move around Drogheda you can’t help but be aware that the traffic in Ireland’s largest town is utterly chaotic.
At best this is a waste of time but there are several pinch points at different times of the day where the continued failure of Louth County Council to get to grips with the situation is putting lives at risk.
An example of this is at the junction of Ascal A Trí, Ascal a hAon and Flaxmill Lane with the Shamrock Villas/Brookville Road which, with three large schools just up the Ballymakenny Road, makes the morning traffic particularly challenging – and dangerous.
Councillor Paddy McQuillan raised the issue at yesterday’s Drogheda Borough meeting saying that it was a potentially very dangerous situation and suggested that someone from the Council engineering section should visit at different times of the day. “It’s kind of chaotic when you see it in operation” he said.
He noted that the Council is currently advertising for school wardens and suggested that, as an interim measure at least, one of these should be stationed at the junction.
Senior Engineer Mark Johnston said that he would investigate and consider the school warden suggestion. He explained however that the decision of whether or not a school crossing warden could be stationed there would depend on a traffic count being carried out the results of which would be calculated on a scientific formula.
Whatever about scientific formulas, Councillor McQuillan told Drogheda Life that he had been contacted by parents who are worried sick about the safety of their children crossing this junction to get to and from school.
One such parent, Samantha Conlon who lives in Yellowbatter, said that children should be encouraged to walk or cycle to school but it was just too dangerous. She pointed out that there is a cycle path on the other side of the road (the Brookville side) but the children coming from the Yellowbatter direction have to cross the extremely busy road to access it.
“The Council need to come down here during the busy times and see for themselves” she said. “There are too many children using this route on their way to school for there not to be a crossing of some sort.”
She said that a young boy had been hit by a car before Christmas – “Thank God he wasn’t too badly hurt but it just underlines the point that a crossing is needed to protect lives.”
Councillor McQuillan said he had visited the junction two mornings and afternoons last week to see for himself how bad the situation was.
“I have to say it is chaotic” he said. “It is extremely dangerous for children crossing the road on foot and also for those on bicycles getting to and from school. In this day and age we are trying to encourage our children to walk and ride their bicycles to school.
“This junction needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency by the council. I am requesting that the council improve the safety for our children going to and from school.”
