Call for action on school bus collection concerns in Moate

A local councillor has called for changes to the parking arrangements at Moate Community School "to ease congestion" and "avoid a certain accident happening in the future".

Speaking at the monthly meeting of Athlone-Moate Municipal District, Cllr Tom Farrell said it was paramount that the council worked with the school authorities, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Bus Éireann and the Local Link bus network to address bus collection issues at Moate Community School.

"It's a cause for concern in the evening when students are leaving school. The buses arrive into the one area outside of the school and it can be mayhem," Cllr Farrell said.

Cllr Farrell said cars parked in the "designated bus lane" are causing congestion and with the recent opening of Aldi he expected traffic to "become heavier".

Asking the council to meet with the stakeholders, he said: "We need to locate more bus parking sites close to the school."

In support of Cllr Farrell, Cllr Vinny McCormack said he had listed a "similar motion" in the council chamber 12 months previously and he welcomed the issue being placed on the meeting agenda for further discussion.

"On foot of our previous discussion, the District's traffic warden visited the site which seemed to allay congestion problems for a while, but I believe the situation is as bad once again.

“Can we ask the traffic warden to make a return visit to Moate Community School and is it possible that we cars can be kept out of bus lanes," Cllr McCormack added.

With over 1,000 students attending Moate Community School, Cllr John Dolan said the parking situation outside the building was "carnage at times" and was in need of a "permanent and immediate solution".Responding, District Manager, Annie Blessington, said she would call on the traffic warden to revisit Moate Community School

She also confirmed that plans to lease parking space at Moate Community Centre for public use were at an "advanced stage" and are expected to "alleviate some of the existing pressures".

"The District will continue to engage with the school and other stakeholders regarding proposals that may positively improve the situation. However, the implementation of any significant changes would be subject to the support of the elected members, technical assessment and the availability of the necessary funding," Ms Blessington stated.

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