‘Lives are being put in danger’ - Reilly calling for road safety measures at Navan schools

Urgent safety measures needed to address traffic chaos at Navan primary schools

Lives are being put in danger outside Cannistown School, all day every day - that was the stark message from Cllr Tommy Reilly this week.

“That road is deadly dangerous and somebody will be killed there some day, if measures aren't taken to improve safety.

“There is a lot of traffic on the road and a lot of drivers just ignore the speed limit.

“Cars are flying by and children are on the move. It is a 500 pupil school and there is traffic all day long.

Cllr Reilly said his sister had a very near miss recently when trying to cross the road in front of the school. “She had checked the traffic and was just stepping off the footpath when a lorry came round the bend at speed.

“It was very close and she wasn't right for days afterwards with the fright of it. There is a 30mph speed limit there, but the traffic just flies by, ignoring it. The signs are a total waste of money. What are really need there are ramps to make the traffic slow down,” he said.

At a meeting of Navan Municipal District last week, Cllr Reilly asked the Council to provide an update on the provision of road safety plans at Cannistown, Boyerstown and Bohermeen schools.

He was told the situation at Cannistown National School was a complex one where it was recognised that the main issue at hand is the lack of adequate parking and set-down areas attached to the school.

“The resultant traffic congestion at school drop-off and pick-up times is recognised as a cause of concern as opposed to any reports of excessive traffic speed at this location during these times.

The Transportation Section of Meath County Council has been in regular contact with the principal of Cannistown National School, the most recent being in March of this year and the Local Authority has indicated its willingness to be of assistance in any matters of land acquisition which might provide a long-term resolution to the parking/set-down issue,” according to a report to the council.

The request to acquire lands needs to come from the Department of Education and Skills and to date, no such request has been received by Meath County Council.

Cllr Reilly was told that that Cannistown National School had made an application to the NTA / An Taisce under the Safe Routes to School Initiative and the council was ready to be of assistance in the putting in place of measures which may be identified as a result of this application being successful.

Council officials pointed out that Meath County Council undertook extensive school safety works at Bohermeen School in 2016/2017 which provide dedicated set-down areas for cars and school buses and this was to be utilised in conjunction with the adjacent parish car park.

Extensive signage, road markings and a reduced 50kph speed limits are in place across the extents of public road fronting all rural schools in Meath.

The Council's Transportation Section undertook to carry out traffic flow and speed surveys at the schools to determine if any additional measures are required.