Speed survey for Laois school amid safety fears

A SPEED and traffic survey will be carried out at Cullohill NS, amid serious concern over children’s safety.

A traffic calming scheme will be designed and costed, if the survey shows that safety measures are needed at the village school.

The move follows a proposal by Cllr Ollie Clooney, who asked for urgent traffic calming measures to be installed at the rural school, which is located on the L1558 local road.

“There is speeding there and there is a bend there as well, so a car will be on top of you before you see it. I hope that we do get traffic calming measures there," Cllr Clooney told the February meeting of Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District.

Cllr John King agreed, saying: “Schools are iffy places. Safety measures outside schools have proved successful in the past and we have to protect children’s lives at all costs.” 

Senior engineer Diarmaid Donohoe, from the county council’s active travel section, replied that a traffic and speed survey would be carried out at Scoil Tighearnach Naofa, Cullohill.

In a written response, the engineer said: ‘A traffic calming scheme will be designed and costed, if required. Funding for the scheme will be provided from either a low-cost safety scheme application to the department or from the municipal district discretionary grants.' 

He added that the solar-powered flashing advance warning signs on the road outside the school would be checked, to ensure that they are operating satisfactorily.