‘A matter of life and death’... Urgent call for safety works in Batterstown village
A WARNING that safety works for Batterstown village are "a matter of life and death" has been issued by a local councillor.
Cllr Caroline O’Reilly has expressed her frustration in the delay at implementing planned safety works for the village and said: "We are gambling with children’s safety by not being proactive in seeking money for this."
At last week's meeting of Ratoath Municipal Council she asked when the approved (2023) Traffic Management project will begin for Batterstown on the RI54.
"What are the stages and the timeline from beginning to completion of this project?”
She was told the council had installed two speed control ramps on the approaches to Rathregan School in December 2021. In September 2023, the Part VIII Planning process was commenced for a proposal to provide a Traffic Calming Scheme including the provision of kerbing, footpaths, raised pedestrian crossings, parking, bus stops, traffic islands, lighting, drainage and other ancillary works .
The scheme is now at the detailed design stage, and subject to funding approval, the scheme could be advanced to tender and procurement of a contractor for the construction works.
Cllr O'Reilly said; "This is not good enough. I feel that this is going to become another scheme that will be shelved for years to come as I was not furnished with a timeline or any details that make sense to people. This request for information is not for public representatives but for the parents of children at that school.
"We’re not furnished with any plans or indication of motivation to fix this issue. The response is unclear and the current status does not suggest any desire to fight for funding for such an essential piece of infrastructure.
"We just heard a presentation on the Dunboyne/Clonee cycleway and pedestrian scheme with millions allocated to it, with an expectation that it will begin construction in 2026. This is infuriating! These projects are not badly wanted but they are being prioritised over the dangerous locations outside of the urban areas
"This is a safety matter for children attending school on a national primary route in a rural village and with the volume of trucks passing through Batterstown I feel that this is an urgent matter and deserves more attention in this regard."
Cllr Brian Fitzgerald agreed and proposed a ramp be installed on the Trim side of the school and O'Reilly seconded it.