The lack of a safe crossing for students from Our Lady’s Bower secondary school on Retreat Road was raised again at the November meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District this week.

Slow progress on provision of safe crossing for Athlone students

Geraldine Grennan

Published: Tue 4 Nov 2025, 10:24 AM

Last updated: Tue 4 Nov 2025, 10:42 AM

The absence of a school crossing at Our Lady's Bower secondary school in Athlone was once again highlighted at the November meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District when Cllr John Dolan wanted to know when the council plan to provide what he described as as “badly-needed safety measure.”

Having raised the issue in June and being told that a school safety audit on all schools in the district would be commenced “towards the end of the year” Cllr Dolan sought an update on what progress had been made in the meantime on the provision of a school crossing on Retreat Road.

District Engineer, Willie Ryan assured Cllr Dolan that “all was good” and added that the council would be “going back to the NTA (National Transport Authority)” in the New Year to progress the issue of school crossings in the Retreat Road area.

The written answer provided to Cllr Dolan from the local authority said Retreat Road has been identified as an Active Travel Route, and the Active Travel Team intend to consult with the schools “in early 2026” with a view to presenting proposals to elected representatives before the end of March.

“As part of this, consideration will be given to the placement of a crossing if a suitable location point can be identified and if approved as part of the plan” said the council response, which added that, subject to NTA approval, a crossing can then be advanced “as an urgent measure.”

When the issue was raised in June by Cllr Dolan, his council colleague, Cllr Frankie Keena highlighted the fact that it was “the fifth or sixth time” that a motion about a school crossing on Retreat Road had been raised in the council chamber. He said the Junior Mayors from Athlone Community College had also “voiced their concerns” about the issue, and he called for a survey of the area outside the schools to be carried out. “Something needs to happen, students are crossing all over the road as it stands” said Cllr Keena.

The District Engineer told the June meeting that it was important that the council find a solution that the students would actually use, and added that the local authority did not want to invest in a crossing “and to have it go unused.”