Safety warden needed at Julianstown National School to ease "chaotic traffic situation"
A safety warden is urgently needed at a Julianstown primary school situated on an extremely busy road before a serious incident occurs according to a local Cllr.
Laytown/ Bettystown Fianna Fáil Councillor Stephen McKee brought up the issue at a recent council meeting.
McKee successfully tabled a motion calling for a School Warden to be appointed by Meath County Council outside Whitecross National School, Julianstown, despite pushback from the Council on the proposal.
McKee stated: "I am pleased that my recent motion calling for the appointment of a School Warden for outside Whitecross NS, Julianstown was supported by fellow Council members and has been adopted.
"Given the school’s location on the extremely busy regional Dublin Road and the delays in work starting on the new Julianstown Traffic Calming Scheme, it is clear to me that the physical presence of a School Warden during the morning and afternoon drop-off and pick-up times would make a positive difference in making the area safer for local children."
In response to the motion, Meath County Council, highlighted the built infrastructure that is already in place such as the footpaths and crossing but this does not take into account the fact that cars quite often break the lights on that section of road close to the school according to McKee who said:
"I was happy to meet with concerned parents recently outside the School one afternoon and the traffic situation was all very chaotic and in my view, unsafe for children.
"I am pleased and grateful to our local council engineer who also met with parents and committed to improving road signage in the vicinity of the school as an interim measure to help things.
"We need to see the start of the Julianstown Traffic Calming Scheme which has already received significant funding under the Capital Investment Programme for the area. Traffic calming is badly needed through the village.
"The Scheme will involve traffic calming of the main road through Julianstown through widening of footpaths, narrowing the carriageway, reduction of junction diameters and improving bus stops and pedestrian crossings," concluded McKee.