Trim parents' relief as crossing sanctioned for outside school

A pedestrian crossing with amber lights is to be constructed to allow students from Boyne Community School to safely cross the road after funding was set aside by Trim area councillors at a recent roads budget meeting. For many years, the board of management and parents' association of the school have been calling for measures to be put in place to improve pedestrian safety at the school, which is located on a bend on the busy Trim-Dublin Road. Renewed appeals were made in the wake of an incident in June 2008 where a 14-year-old boy was knocked down as he crossed the road with his bicycle outside the school. Warning signs with flashing lights were erected last year to warn motorists that a school was ahead but these were not sufficient to improve the safety of children crossing the road. A controlled pedestrian crossing with flashing amber lights is now to be erected outside the school during the coming summer holidays after funding was set aside by Trim area councillors from their roads programme. Trim area councillor Ray Butler, who is also chairman of the town council, welcomed that funding was set aside for the project and said the work would be carried out during the next few months. "It is long overdue. Since the barriers went down at the school, it has been a nightmare. It is a very dangerous situation where cars are going up the cul-de-sac trying to turn and kids are trying to cross the road. A child was knocked down there last year. "I would like to thank my fellow councillors for their help with funding and it will be done during the summer," said Cllr Butler. He added that the engineer had also been in touch with the ESB about the matter and said the "foundation stones were being laid". Cllr Butler said the crossing was also very welcome for other schools in the the town and provided a safe way to cross the busy Trim-Dublin Road. Children from other schools could continue up the cul-de-sac and cross at the other pedestrian crossing to Scoil Mhuire, St Mary's and St Michael's National Schools. "It is a safe corridor for children to cross safely. We had been looking for something to be done for years. "It was raised again at the recent town council meeting when councillors asked for an update," he added. Cllr Butler said the situation will be monitored to see how the crossing is working. "It will be monitored and, if there are any issues, whatever needs to be done will be done to ensure the safety of those going to school," he said.