Road safety issues outside Cornafulla school highlighted

Despite the fact that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) was said to have “no remit” in relation to providing safety measures outside Cornafulla national school, there was trenchant criticism of the body from a number of councillors at the September meeting of the Athlone municipal district of Roscommon County Council.

The issue of safety at the school was raised by Independent Cllr Tony Ward by way of a motion calling on the council and TII to install a pedestrian crossing on the R466, extend the footpaths and reduce the speed limit to 50km per hour. He also asked that the works be commenced “immediately, in the interest of safety”.

Area Engineer and acting co-ordinator for the Athlone municipal district, Paul Browne, pointed out to members that TII has “no remit” in relation to safety issues on the R466 regional road as it is responsible for the national road network.

However, Cathaoirleach Cllr John Naughten, who seconded Cllr Ward’s motion, described the issues at Cornafulla school as “unique” and said “a special case needs to be put to TII.”

He acknowledged the upgraded works already carried out by Roscommon County Council at the school, including flashing traffic signs and improved road markings, but said they did not address “the core issue” of speeding and safety for parents and children accessing the school.

Cllr Naughten added that perhaps there was a case for reducing speed limits “at all schools across the county” and pointed out that the speed and the contour of the R466 road at Cornafulla school made for “a very dangerous situation.”

Cllr John Keogh said TII, whom he referred to as “an unelected body” had displayed “a total disregard” for the elected members of Roscommon County Council to date, and had no interest in the safety issues at Cornafulla school due to the fact that the entrance to the school is located on the R466.

He also pointed to the fact that previous efforts were made to reduce the speed on the road from 100km per hour to 80km per hour, but that had met with resistance “from some sectors.”

“If we are serious about active travel we have to make it safe for our young people to be able to walk and cycle to school,” said Cllr Keogh.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Cllr Donal Kilduff, who said the council should not be “relying on an unelected body” to make decisions in relation to speed limits and safety issues. “We should have the autonomy to decide these things for ourselves and if we are to be serious about active travel then motorists have to be secondary road users and cyclists and pedestrians should be primary road users,” he said.

Calling the need for safety measures at Cornafulla national school “a no-brainer” Cllr Kilduff said it was “ridiculous” that the council didn’t have autonomy to implement their own speed limits. “A reduction in speed limits makes common sense, but unfortunately, common sense doesn’t seem to be all that common anymore,” he remarked.

Cllr Laurence Fallon observed that there seems to be “no links whatsoever” between the Road Safety Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Cllr Tony Ward told the meeting that he had raised safety concerns at Cornafulla school in June of last year and he also acknowledged the upgrade works that have been carried out since then. However, he said there are still “major concerns” about the speed of traffic approaching the school from the Ballinasloe direction, and particularly at the fact that there is a 100kmh speed sign located “less than 100 metres from the school.”

“I intend to keep raising safety issues as long as I am a councillor, and I would be failing in my duties as a councillor if I didn’t keep this item on the agenda,” said Cllr Ward, who urged the council to “find a reason to make the improvements, rather than trying to find a reason not to do it.”

In its written response to Cllr Ward’s motion, the council said that as a result of the speed limits in force on the R446 the provision of a pedestrian crossing “is not appropriate.” It added that traffic signs and road markings were upgraded recently adjacent to the school and reminded all drivers to “only drive within the necessary speed limits, but also at speeds that are appropriate to the conditions."

“Roscommon County Council Road Safety Office actively works with the RSA and An Garda Siochana in promoting road safety and this stretch of road will be highlighted to the Gardai for increased observation and enforcement on those who do not comply with the speed limits” the reply from the council stated, adding that “drivers should always be aware that speed limits are not a target! Drivers who ignore speed limits put themselves and others at great risk.”