Nationalist Laois – Urgent call for road safety measures at the Portlaoise school

By Ryan Dunne

SOMETHING needs to be done to improve road safety at Scoil Bhride in Portlaoise before there is a fatality.
This is what Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said at the recent meeting of the municipal district of Portlaoise. She asked the Departmental Council of Laois to carry out a road safety audit at the Knockmay school as well as at the entrances to the domain.
“It is one of the largest primary schools in Laois with more than 800 children in the agglomeration. There are a lot of traffic problems to park on the road at the bus drop-off area. No one can enter and everyone is dropped off at the gates. It’s absolutely chaotic, ”added the local elected official.
She said that over the years various measures have been put in place at other locations, such as kiosks at Parnell Crescent and Clonroosk.
“People park on residents’ roads and residents cannot access their own homes. Something has to be done before there is a death.
Seconding the motion, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said the audit is absolutely necessary and the problem is caused by “the manners of the drivers”.
“We have to think about the safety of children,” said Cllr Fitzgerald.
Also supporting the motion, Cllr Noel Tuohy said schools should be high on the board’s agenda.
Senior engineer Wes Wilkinson said the council will shortly be issuing a tender to conduct a road safety audit at the location.
He confirmed that the security audit will take place in late February / early March next year.