Planning process for Cloonakilla road safety works to start shortly

Roscommon County Council has said it will shortly commence the process of seeking public views on its plan for road safety initiatives in the vicinity of Cloonakilla NS.

The update was given during a debate on safety concerns in the area.

Cllr Tony Ward tabled a question querying the delays in carrying out resurfacing works at Cloonakilla national school, including the installation of footpaths, a pedestrian crossing and a roundabout.

In its written response, the Executive of Roscommon County Council stated it will “very shortly” publish a Part 8 process for these works, after which appropriate funding will be sought from the National Transport Authority under the Active Travel Scheme. Once funding is secured, detailed design will commence and a contractor will be appointed to deliver the scheme.

Director of Services Paul Browne told the meeting that, in the interim period, the council “could consider” the possibility of staggered opening times in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion in the vicinity of Cloonakilla school.

Cllr Tony Ward told the meeting he has been raising the issue of safety at Cloonakilla school “since 2009” and would continue to raise it until some action was taken to make the area safer.

“It is a totally unacceptable situation to have no footpaths, no pedestrian crossing, no roundabout and a very poor road surface in this area, and my whole concern is one of safety for the parents, children, teachers and everyone else who uses this road,” he said.

Referring to Government policy which promotes cycling and other active travel measures, Cllr Ward said there can be “no cycling to Cloonakilla school” and he appealed to the council to provide some indication of when some “real work” could start to make the area safer.

Cllr Laurence Fallon questioned how a brand-new school could have been built in Cloonakilla and yet “absolutely no plan” was put in place to manage parking. “This is probably one of the most significant issues in south Roscommon,” he said, adding that he had attended a funeral recently where he was told that more and more people “avoid going to Athlone at peak school times” to avoid the delays associated with traffic congestion at the school.

Cllr Emer Kelly said a traffic plan needs to be put in place at Cloonakilla school “before it’s too late” while Cllr John Naughten called for timelines to be put in place in relation to funding and necessary works.

Referring to the long-running saga of emergency works at Lough Funshinagh, Cllr Laurence Fallon said the works which are required at Cloonakilla national school are “a real emergency.”

Meanwhile, in correspondence to Deputy Denis Naughten on the same issue last week, Roscommon County Council suggested that, as an interim measure, An Garda Siochana, the council, local businesses and the school's board of management and parents association could meet to implement “the necessary changes in behaviour and protocols necessary to reduce the risks associated with traffic flows around Cloonakilla NS.”